Browns Propose Expanding Future Draft Pick Trades

NFL team seeks to allow trading up to 5 years of future draft picks, up from current 3-year limit.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:13am

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The Cleveland Browns are proposing a rule change that would allow NFL teams to trade draft picks up to 5 years in the future, expanding the current 3-year limit. The Browns argue this would provide greater roster-building flexibility and encourage more active trading across the league.

Why it matters

The Browns famously traded 3 future first-round picks to acquire QB Deshaun Watson in 2022. This proposal would give teams even more ability to mortgage their future for immediate talent, which could impact league-wide parity and roster-building strategies.

The details

The Browns' proposal cites that teams operate under strategic plans beyond 3 seasons and have access to data that enables them to forecast roster decisions further out. The change would allow more creative trade structures, increase liquidity of draft capital, and better align with contract/salary cap cycles.

  • The proposed rule change would be voted on at the NFL's annual meeting in late March 2026.
  • The Browns traded 3 future first-round picks to acquire Deshaun Watson in 2022.

The players

Andrew Berry

Cleveland Browns General Manager, a long-time advocate of increasing trade activity in the NFL.

Deshaun Watson

Quarterback acquired by the Browns in 2022 in a trade that included 3 future first-round picks.

Shedeur Sanders

Second-year quarterback who will compete with Deshaun Watson for the Browns' starting job in 2026.

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What’s next

The proposed rule change will be voted on by NFL owners at the league's annual meeting in late March 2026.

The takeaway

This proposal reflects the Browns' aggressive approach to roster-building, as well as the increasing use of data and long-term planning in the NFL. If approved, it could lead to more blockbuster trades and further impact the balance of power across the league.