Browns' trade-down in Round 1 with Chiefs called best move of NFL Draft
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Browns' trade-down in Round 1 with Chiefs called best move of NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns drafted two players, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Jones and Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion, at No. 9 and No. 24, respectively.
But, while the Concepcion pick was not moved during the draft, the Fano pick was the result of a trade. Originally picking No. 6 overall, the Browns dropped down three spots with the Kansas City Chiefs.
ESPN's Jordan Reid called that trade for the Browns the best move of the entire 2026 NFL Draft. While there were plenty of good picks, the Andrew Berry trading down three picks, adding extra capital, and still getting their top option was incredible business.
Browns' trade with Chiefs called best move of NFL Draft
"What was the best trade up, down or for a player during Round 1? The Browns trading down and still getting OT Spencer Fano," Reid writes.
Cleveland traded the No. 6 pick to the Chiefs so Kansas City could move up and draft LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. It was a mild surprise, as Delane hadn't been thought of as a trade-up target pre-draft.
But that aggressiveness from the Chiefs was a huge boon for the Browns. They acquired the No. 74 pick in the third round and the No. 148 pick in the NFL Draft to move down three spots.
Then, after the Washington Commanders took linebacker Sonny Styles and the New Orleans Saints went WR Jordyn Tyson, the Browns got their guy in Fano.
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Offensive line was always likely to be their first pick in the NFL Draft, as the WR depth in this year's class allowed the Browns to have a few options available with their second first-round pick, barring a surprise.
That's exactly what happened, with Concepcion, Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr., and Washington's Denzel Boston all being available.
The Browns did what they were hoping to do in the first round of the NFL Draft, and it went even better than expected. They got a new WR and OT, and also got a trade-down, adding a third and fifth rounder.
Berry and the Browns swung an awesome trade with the Chiefs, and Reid called it the best deal of the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
