On April 24th, 2025, at 8 pm eastern time, in Green Bay Wisconsin the NFL held the first round of their annual college football draft. The Cleveland Browns held the second pick of that draft. The Browns as a gift to their season ticket holders hosted a watch party with a free Journey concert to their season ticket holders at Huntington Bank Field. I was in attendance that evening and what I witnessed was an unexpected roller coaster of emotions for Cleveland Browns fans that evening.

Shortly after University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward was taken first overall by the Tennessee Titans, a trade was announced between the Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars traded the fifth overall pick to the Browns for the second overall pick. The Browns also received a 2025 second round pick and a 2026 first round pick. Jacksonville went on to pick University of Colorado wide receiver / defensive back Travis Hunter. He was regarded as one of the best players in the draft. Cleveland Browns fans were upset, and they booed mercilessly at the trade and losing out on Hunter. But that was before the terms of the trade were announced and who the Browns took with the 5th pick.

With the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. The 6’ 3” 296 lbs. defensive lineman filled a need for the Cleveland Browns in the trenches. Another need was filled in the second round of the draft. With the thirty sixth overall pick the 2025 NFL Draft that was acquired in the Jacksonville trade, the Cleveland Browns picked Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins. He was considered one of the top running backs in the draft. With the departure of Nick Chubb, the Cleveland Browns had a hole in their roster to fill at running back and Judkins will fit right in for the Browns. And don’t forget that the Cleveland Browns also have two first round picks in 2026.

After the initial emotions of the draft night trade subsided and most Browns fans took an analytical look at the trade itself. Browns fans gained a better understanding of the organizational decision to get assets for the future. We truly will not know who won the trade until a few years from now. Also, it depends on the value of the 2026 first round pick from Jacksonville. I myself and many Browns fans are hoping for that pick to be of the highest value possible, in other words Browns fans are going to hope that the Jacksonville pick will be in the top 5 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Or the first pick overall, why not? It’s not like Cleveland isn’t due for some good luck. And luck is preparation meeting opportunity and they both could meet on draft night in 2026.