While we are still two hours away from a pick becoming official, the Browns and Texans are making a change to their draft hauls. The AFC teams have agreed on a swap involving Day 3 picks.
Cleveland will pick up a fifth-rounder in this draft and a fifth in 2027 in exchange for three later-round choices this year, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Here are the full terms of the swap:
Browns receive:
- 2025 fifth-round pick (No. 166)
- 2027 fifth-rounder
Texans receive:
- 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 179)
- No. 216
- No. 255
This trade does not check in on the level of Houston’s pre-draft exchange with Minnesota last year, as that involved a first-round pick going to the Vikings. But the Browns are still capitalizing on their 10-pick arsenal to move up on Day 3. Cleveland’s 2025 selection count will drop from 10 to eight via this trade, and while sixth- and seventh-round picks may not move the needle much, teams are high on this draft’s depth.
The No. 166 choice came from the Bills in last year’s Stefon Diggs trade, while each of the picks the Browns are sending the Texans’ way are their own selections. Houston will see its 2025 selection count jump from seven to nine, providing more opportunities for late-round fliers (or more trades). The Texans now have five picks between Rounds 6 and 7 this year.
Cleveland has been tied to using the No. 2 overall pick as a way to stockpile more draft ammo, with the storyline persisting over the past two days. It still looks more likely than not the Browns end up with Travis Hunter at 2, but the team subtracted some late-round capital for two 5s. GM Andrew Berry has also been connected to using the No. 34 overall pick as a vehicle to trade back into Round 1, giving the Browns a chance to draft Hunter and circle back to a quarterback hours later. A fifth-rounder this year would be an asset to use in that event. It will now be worth monitoring if higher-profile moves are on tap.
This has gotta be the most random pre-draft trade ever
Super random lmao
Now that we got one, let the floodgates open!
Were they just bored?
I literally lol’d at that
Seems like a better deal for the Browns unless they draft badly. Texas must be looking at accumulating warm bodies.
I agree, it makes sense to concentrate your picks in earlier rounds. More choices
It’s a couple 5ths for a 6th I think a 7th and 7th. It’s all a crap shoot anyways in those rounds whether you’re drafting 5th round or 7th round.
Sometimes having more lotto tickets can be beneficial esp if you hit
Yeah, I’d rather have two 5th’s than a 6th and two 7th’s.
So it’s actually 2 6ths and a 7th
Texans are giving up 1 5th for 2 6ths and a 7th in this draft
By the time 2027 draft rolls around I’m sure they can replace the 5th they lost. And if stuff goes right next 2 years they’ll have a chance to get a higher 5th than their 2027 one would be.
It seems Berry is preparing to move up from 33 to draft a QB after he selects Hunter at 2….works for me