Browns propose allowing teams to trade draft picks five years into future

There will be at least two semi-new rules for NFL teams to consider at the annual league meetings, which begin March 29 in Phoenix.

The Cleveland Browns submitted a proposal seeking to allow teams to trade draft selections up to five seasons in the future. The current rules allow teams to trade draft picks for up to three years in advance. The argument in favor of making the change to five years is that it would allow for a more active trade market and more flexibility with roster building.

For context, the NBA’s rule for how far in advance teams can trade draft picks is seven years. The regulations for trading draft picks are put in place to protect teams from gross mismanagement, such as what the Cleveland Cavaliers experienced in the 1980s, when then-owner Ted Stepien traded away five consecutive first-round picks. The NBA instituted the “Stepien Rule” to ensure that sort of thing wouldn’t happen.

Trading premium draft picks for veteran players is already a common practice around the league, even with the smaller three-year window. The Indianapolis Colts traded two first-round picks to the New York Jets last year for cornerback Sauce Gardner and the Green Bay Packers traded a pair of first-rounders last year to the Dallas Cowboys for edge rusher Micah Parsons. This week, the Miami Dolphins dealt wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos for a package that included a first-round pick in this year’s draft. The idea is that expanding the window could lead to more blockbuster trades.

Overall, six of the 32 first-round selections this year have been traded.

The Pittsburgh Steelers also proposed allowing teams to have a video or phone call for up to one hour each with up to five unrestricted free agents during the two-day legal tampering period that precedes the start of free agency and the new league year. The player’s agent would be on the call between the team and the player. This concept was implemented this year on a trial basis, and the Steelers are proposing to make the change permanent.

Previously, teams were only allowed to talk to the agents of the unrestricted free agents during the legal tampering window.

In addition to the two club proposals, there may be other rules changes proposed by the NFL’s competition committee at the league meetings. In order for any changes to be approved, the rule must receive an affirmative vote from at least 24 of the 32 teams.