Browns Rejected Blockbuster Draft-Day Trade Offer From Cowboys Before Picking Spencer Fano
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 20: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones looks on before a game between the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys on November 20, 2022, at U. S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.
Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA NOV 20 Cowboys at Vikings Icon2022112015 ©IMAGO/Icon Sportswire During the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys tried to move up in a deal with the Cleveland Browns while Cleveland was on the clock at pick No. 9. The Browns turned down the offer, choosing to stay at their original position – a decision that’s now drawing attention in hindsight.
“When the Browns were on the clock at Pick 9 in this year’s NFL Draft, the Cowboys offered picks 12 and 20 and a fifth-rounder for Picks 9 and 24. Cleveland was not interested,” Jon Machota of The Athletic shared on X. After that failed attempt, Dallas didn’t sit still for long.
They struck a separate deal with the Miami Dolphins, moving up from No. 12 to No. 11, where they ultimately selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
The Browns, on the other hand, stuck to their draft board and officially selected Spencer Fano, an offensive tackle from Utah. The Browns were one of the more active teams on night one of the 2026 NFL Draft, using their two first-round picks to add what they hope are immediate impact players for a roster in need of upgrades. They helped kick off the action early, making the first trade of the night by moving down from No.