Steelers-Browns draft trade prediction lands Broderick Jones replacement for Pittsburgh originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When you think about possible trades during the 2026 NFL Draft, the last one anyone would predict is a deal between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.
But NBC Sports' Chris Simms is feeling frisky just days ahead of the three-day event and is predicting the AFC North rivals will strike a first-round trade.
In his mock draft, Simms has the Steelers trading back three spots from No. 21 to No. 24 with the Browns.
With their new picks, the Steelers take offensive tackle Spencer Fano while the Browns land wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.
Suspending reality for a second, this trade does make sense for both teams.
The Browns are lacking reliable options at wide receiver going into 2026.
Jerry Jeudy has shown flashes of having elite ability, but he has also proven inconsistent with drops and up-and-down production overall.
Cleveland's projected No. 2 wide receiver, Cedric Tillman, remains unproven and has had issues staying healthy, and the completely unproven Isaiah Bond is slated to be the team's No. 3 wide receiver.
That is not an ideal situation for the Browns, especially if they start a young quarterback in Shedeur Sanders.
Adding Cooper, whose stock has risen through the pre-draft process, gives the Browns some much-needed depth and a potential starter from Day 1.
Pittsburgh recently got bad news at left tackle, with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting that Broderick Jones has suffered a setback.
Jones came down with a neck injury last season and had to have surgery. Now, his status for Week 1 is up in the air.
Jones was already on shaky ground, though, as the former first-round pick has struggled over three years in the NFL.
Fano is widely viewed as a top-five tackle is this year's draft class and could step in and fill the void for Jones and be a long-term solution.