The Trade Down Bandwagon is Piling Up for the Browns

Yesterday, ESPN's Adam Schefter lit the flame that the Cleveland Browns would like to move down from the No. 2 spot in the 2016 NFL Draft. Now, the reports are starting to come out fast and furious about the Browns itching to move down. First, let's take a look at this nugget from Jeff Darlington of NFL.com:

Nothing imminent here, but yes, GM Sashi Brown has initiated the calls to gauge market for his No. 2 pick. https://t.co/gBtqzx4OLY

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) April 19, 2016

That was in response to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network quoting Darlington as having said the Browns are "actively shopping" the No. 2 pick, with [Executive VP of Football Operations] Sashi Brown making calls inside the Top 10. I tend to think that it is more so the other way around -- teams calling the Browns to try to move up to No. 2 and Cleveland being active listeners, but the reports are indicating otherwise.

Next, we have Matt Miller of Bleacher Report saying that the Browns would prefer to add a lot of lower picks than a couple of higher picks in a move down:

Teams trying to move up to #2: load that offer with late round picks. Browns rumored to want more picks not necessarily highest pick offered

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 19, 2016

The Browns might be interested in having the ammunition to move up on Day 2 or Day 3 if they find the right player available at a certain spot. With compensatory picks being tradeable in 2017 too, it seems more likely that the Browns would prefer to obtain those picks in 2016 since they'll already have a good surplus in 2017.