Cleveland just dropped a bombshell on the NFL. It is hard to imagine anybody saw this trade coming. The Cleveland Browns have traded the first overall pick in this years draft, and a 2018 second round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Richard Sherman, the rights to Marshawn Lynch, and the 26th overall pick in this year’s draft.
Yes, you read that right. The Browns just went full Cleveland on us. This trade is something you might have seen in the movie Draft Day. Hue Jackson said a few days ago they would not be trading the pick and here they are trading the first pick in the draft for a cornerback and a retired running back.
Cleveland’s Thinking
Pinpointing why the Browns would do this trade is difficult. The one bright spot in this trade is they were able to acquire Seattle’s first-round pick, meaning they still have two first-round picks. There is still a possibility they trade back up into the top 10 with those two first-round picks.
Cleveland also acquired one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Richard Sherman has spent his entire career in Seattle and some may see him as a success of a system rather than it being personal greatness. It will remain to be seen if acquiring Sherman is a smart move or a reach at this point in his career.
The other acquisition is the biggest head-scratcher of all. There is no guarantee Marshawn Lynch was going to come out of retirement, and it is less likely he comes out of retirement to play for a team sitting in the dumpster. If Lynch is coming out of retirement, it would be to play for a contender.
This trade is just an overall head-scratcher for Cleveland. They may be trying to acquire veteran talent that has been in winning organizations to help build a winning culture in Cleveland. However, giving up the first overall pick seems to be a bit too much.
Seattle’s Thinking
From the outside, this looks like a win for Seattle. Sherman has been known to speak his mind to the media, even if it should be kept in-house. Lately, he and teammate Doug Baldwin had been exchanging words through the media. Reports came out that the Seahawks had been fielding offers for Sherman ever since. Losing a top-three cornerback is a huge loss, and Sherman will be hard to replace.
Lynch is also heading to Cleveland with Sherman. Seattle won this part of the trade because there is no guarantee Lynch returns to football. They essentially traded Sherman and a first-round pick for the first overall pick and a second-rounder.
Conclusion
Seattle won the trade and now will most likely add Myles Garrett to their already loaded defense. Losing Sherman hurts, but if their pass rush becomes elite, their cornerbacks won’t have to be in coverage long.
Cleveland added a veteran presence from a winning culture to their locker room. If Lynch comes out of retirement, the trade looks better for Cleveland. However, it is still a huge loss. They did not get enough for the first overall pick in the draft.
Cleveland fans, I am sorry that the Browns organization has been so bad that this trade is believable. Happy April Fools Day from The Game Haus.
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