Cowboys Should Have Browns in Sights After Latest Draft Trade Rumor

A rumor says the Browns are interested in trading back in the first round of the NFL Draft. Here's what a trade with the Dallas Cowboys could look like.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

When it comes to their first-round selections, the Dallas Cowboys need to do all it takes to land at least one blue-chip prospect.

With pick Nos. 12 and 20, the Cowboys are in range to do that, and while that player could come from sticking and picking at No. 12, the chances will be increased if Dallas trades up from that spot.

Of course, trade ups in the first half of the first round are never easy, but Dallas is better equipped than any team to do so.

As far as which teams might offer an opportunity to trade up, the Cowboys should be eyeing the Cleveland Browns at pick No. 6.

That's because, according to Essentially Sports' Tony Pauline, the Browns are interested in trading back. Pauline notes Cleveland is looking for a left tackle.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam meet before the game at Cowboys Stadium. | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

"With the top of the NFL Draft board dominated by quarterback talk, league sources indicate the Cleveland Browns are quietly open for business, potentially trading down to target a foundational offensive tackle," Pauline reported.

While the Browns have done a good job addressing an offensive line that saw all five of its 2025 starters hit free agency, Cleveland still has a major question mark at left tackle, so it makes sense to target one early.

And, the Browns don't have to use their No. 6 pick to do it, as there figures to be multiple left tackles available before we hit the teens in the first round, so a trade back with Dallas is very plausible.

What a Cowboys-Browns trade would look like

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Browns' No. 6 pick is worth 1,600 points, according to the NFL Draft Trade Value Chart.

In a perfect world, the two teams just swap their pair of first-round picks (the Browns have No. 24, also) and the Cowboys still walk out of Day 1 with two players.

But the points don't add up there. Dallas' two first-round picks equal 2,050, while Cleveland's add up to 2,340.

Instead, the Cowboys can give up Nos. 12 and 20 and the Browns can send them back No. 6 and their No. 39 overall pick, which comes in the second round.

That proposal has a difference of just 100 points (Browns' picks are worth 2,150). If Cleveland wants to be a stickler, Dallas can toss in one or two Day 3 picks to help close up the gap.

Either way, there is clearly a realistic path to a massive Round 1 trade between the Browns and Cowboys, and it's something the Cowboys should seriously consider if there's a true impact defender they can nab inside the top 6.

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