Browns’ NFL Draft Pick Trade Proposal Falls Flat, Withdrawn

PHOENIX — The NFL is not going to NBA-style roster management—at least not yet.

The Browns have withdrawn their proposed resolution that would have allowed teams to trade draft picks up to five years in the future, an increase from the current three. The proposed change was one of several issues up for discussion at this week’s NFL annual meeting. Cleveland argued that the shift would promote a more fertile trade market and increased roster flexibility. 

Ultimately, though, there was not sufficient support for the idea among other teams.

“There’s zero chance it gets through,” Rams coach Sean McVay, a member of the NFL’s competition committee, said. “It doesn’t have any support.

“[Browns GM] Andrew Berry is as smart as it gets, and his ability to articulate the thought process behind it is very sound. But just the general feeling that I get from being here, even on the committee, I would be shocked if there was anything other than a question about it and nothing comes of it. There’s really not enough tangible reasons to say why we would change a system that’s kind of worked.”

The NBA permits draft picks to be traded up to seven years in the future, and heavy draft-pick movement is a fundamental part of that league’s roster activity.

Even with this particular idea being shelved in the NFL, it’s likely that roster management will continue to push into new areas as younger general managers continue to enter the league.