Browns to predicted to pull off major trade during 2026 NFL Draft

It's no secret that the Cleveland Browns, for the most part, were atrocious on offense in 2025. 

Rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders both struggled, but it's hard to blame them considering the supporting cast was not good. The Browns got a new coaching staff this offseason, but haven't done much of anything to improve the offense around the quarterback. 

Last year, rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. led the team in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jerry Jeudy was the only wide receiver to get more than 600 yards on the season. 

To try and make the pass-catcher group better in 2026, the Browns have added... Tylan Wallace. That's it. 

As a result, the team may be looking towards the draft to make a big move. In fact, Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski believes the Browns could pull off a major trade during the 2026 draft. 

Sobleski predicts that the Browns will trade for receiver Brian Thomas Jr. from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thomas has been rumored to be on the trade block, and his production took a big step back in 2025 after making the Pro Bowl as a rookie. 

Regarding this potential deal, Sobleski offered the following: 

The Browns desperately need a wide receiver, with the inconsistent Jerry Jeudy serving as the squad's top threat. Thomas can immediately enter Cleveland's lineup as WR1 and give whoever is at quarterback a quality target, particularly in the vertical game.

General manager Andrew Berry should look at the situation and realize Thomas is only 23 years old and the Browns aren't going to get a better wide receiver with the draft pick they currently hold. Besides, the market demands a first-round pick in return after the Denver Broncos surrendered one for Jaylen Waddle, who is four years older than Thomas.

Interestingly, the Browns own the Jaguars' first-round pick this year, so in this scenario, they would simply send the pick back to the Jaguars for Thomas. 

As Sobleski mentioned, the receiver you take with that first-round pick probably won't be as good as Thomas, at least initially, so this deal makes sense. The Browns need someone who can come in and be a top target from day one. 

In 2025, Thomas played in 14 games and caught 48 passes for 707 yards and two touchdowns. However, the LSU product had 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, showing he can be a true No. 1 option. 

The Browns need to see if Sanders can be the franchise quarterback, and they can't fairly do that unless Sanders has talent to work with. A pass-catching trio of Thomas, Jeudy, and Fannin isn't great, but it's certainly better than last year. 

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