The Browns are hoarding draft picks for 2017 and they might not be done yet

The Cleveland Browns turned heads earlier this offseason when they hired former baseball executive Paul DePodesta to be their Chief Strategy Office and promoted general counsel Sashi Brown as their new executive vice president of football operations. Now one day into their first NFL Draft, the new leadership’s plan to resuscitate the franchise is obvious: stockpiling draft picks, specifically for 2017.

In just over a week, the Browns have already traded down three times. First with the Philadelphia Eagles, and then the Tennessee Titans, turning their No. 2 overall pick into two additional third-round picks, a fourth-round pick, a 2017 first-round pick, a 2017 second-rounder and a 2018 second-rounder -- in addition to snagging Corey Coleman, the first wide receiver drafted this year, at No. 15.

On Day 2, the Browns made just one move, sending the No. 77 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for the No. 93 overall pick, the No. 129 overall pick and the No. 168 overall pick.

For the first time in recent memory, it seems the Browns understand that the future of their franchise doesn’t revolve around one specific draft pick, but rather requires successful players at several different positions.

“The big thing for us was just trying to figure out how to get not only the players that we really wanted but also have as much draft capital as possible because we are trying to build a great organization over a long period of time here,” DePodesta said.

The Browns had one second-round pick and three third-round picks heading into Day 2 and they spent them all, acquiring extra Day 3 picks in the process. As of now (following the second day of the NFL Draft) here are the remaining picks for the Browns this year, and the additional early-round picks they have the next two years:

No. 99 (Round 4)
No. 100 (Round 4)
No. 129 (Round 4)
No. 138 (Round 4)
No. 168 (Round 5)
No. 172 (Round 5)
No. 173 (Round 5)
No. 223 (Round 7)

2 first-rounders
2 second-rounders

1 first-rounder
2 second-rounders

Cleveland is challenging the record for most number of draft picks by a team in a year, currently held by the Miami Dolphins from 1997 with 14 picks. Seven teams tie for second with 13 picks -- including the Browns from 2000. In addition to a slew of picks this year, the Browns are already collecting and saving up for 2017. This front office is thinking long term, and that already includes planning for the next few seasons through the NFL Draft.