Browns NFL Draft: 3 players who determine Cleveland's move at pick six

Cleveland's decision at pick number six may be determined by the players that are selected in picks one through five. Yes, that is an obvious statement to make, but who is available when the Browns are on the clock could open the door to a significant trade partner.

According to several reports, Cleveland is trying their hardest to move off of the sixth pick; it would just need a trade partner to get the job done. Here are the three players to keep your eye on in the first five picks:

Wide Receiver Carnell Tate

If the Browns do decide to go wide receiver at pick six, Carnell Tate is the pick. He stands above the rest of the wide receiver class in nearly every category. Reports are beginning to circulate that Cleveland is leaning towards taking him, which is so obvious that it seems like a major smokescreen. If Tate is available at number six, which is likely that he will be, Cleveland will have a legitimate decision to make on whether they want to stay and select him, or trade back off the pick.

Safety Caleb Downs

Caleb Downs is the first lynch pin in for Cleveland to make this decision. The reports are that the Dallas Cowboys are the obvious trade partner for several reasons. For one, the Washington Commanders hold the seventh overall pick, and the Cowboys could slide right in front of them to simultaneously select a player that will torture Washington for years to come while keeping that player off the Commanders' roster.

Downs is that guy. The Cowboys need a safety, and if they want to go big game hunting, they will have to pay up to get him and maybe send Cleveland both of their first-round picks this year in exchange for the sixth pick. This would be a win-win as Dallas gets its guy and Cleveland gets three top-30 players, presumably all on the offensive side.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs (2) warms up during the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 1, 2025.

Linebacker Sonny Styles

Sonny Styles would be the second defender that Cleveland could dangle in front of Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. The price to get here would be a little less expensive than it would be to come and get Downs, but regardless, this would be the player who could trigger a trade.

Styles is regarded by some as the best football player available in the draft. He is such a natural football player, and he is built like a robot. He is 6'5", 250 pounds, and he ran a 4.43 forty-yard dash. When you watch his tape, he is as good as it gets. If Sonny is there at six, which he should be, he could be the trade bait that Cleveland is looking for.

Cleveland will have a decision to make at pick number six, and these three Buckeyes will ultimately determine what they end up doing.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns NFL Draft: 3 players who determine Cleveland's move at pick six