March 19, 2026, 7:35 p.m. ET

The Cleveland Browns approached the NFL with a new rule change this week that would allow teams to trade draft picks five years into the future instead of the three, which is the rule now.

This obviously points to a trade that the Browns want to make, but the question is, which one?

The first one that immediately comes to mind is a deal to move superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett. Garrett is the best pass rusher in the NFL, and it isn’t particularly close. Garrett is virtually unblockable, and what might be more impactful is the gravity that he has on the field. Game plans are designed to stop him, and he wrecks opposing offenses from Monday to Sunday. Even as he gets older, he is still just as valuable as ever.

If the Browns are still in rebuild mode by the time next season rolls around, would they want to try to move the sack king? Could they ask for four first-round picks? That could certainly be the case, but I do not think this is the trade that the new rule points to.

Do the Browns have a trade on the mind?

The one that the Browns are preparing for is a move to the top of the draft to get a quarterback next year. They, and several other teams, are posturing for the opportunity to be high enough in next year’s draft to be able to select one of the many quarterbacks that will be in the draft.

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If Cleveland is trying to be competitive next year, but still wants to have a high draft pick, well, they are going to have to be able to move more than just three first-rounders.

The quiet part here is if owner Jimmy Haslam really wants to get Arch Manning and will do anything to get him, then Cleveland will have to be willing to pay up to do it.

Cleveland’s proposal for the extension of available draft capital was one of just two rule change requests that will be considered at league meetings. The other came from Cleveland’s rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it was very low leverage. They want to be able to contact free agents during the open negotiating period.

For a rule change to pass, it will need approval from 24 of the 32 teams.

Cleveland is clearly preparing to make a big move somewhere; the only question is where and for whom.