The Cleveland Browns have proposed a big change to trade rules that could alter the future of how deals are completed in the NFL.
The league announced on Wednesday that the organization wants to discuss the possibility of allowing teams to trade draft picks up to five years into the future. At present, teams can only trade picks three years ahead.
Their suggestion will be discussed by NFL owners at league meetings later this month – 24 of the 32 teams have to approve it for it to become a rule.
And if it does come into force it would, the Browns say, lead to a more active trade market and improved flexibility within rosters.
For fans, more trades would equal more excitement – players switching teams is a thrilling part of the NFL calendar, even if it mainly happens during the offseason.
The downside, however, could be that general managers restrict teams from rebuilds in the future if they trade away future first-round picks for players who do not fulfil potential.
There have been six trades involving first-round picks during the current offseason.
This week, the Denver Broncos traded theirs to the Miami Dolphins as part of the deal to land wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
The Kansas City Chiefs also got a second first-round pick when they traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.
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