The Cleveland Browns, who have won one playoff game in 27 years since re-entering the NFL, are lobbying for more wiggle room when making trades with an eye toward the future.
A proposal submitted by the Browns asks the league to permit the trading of draft picks up to five years in the future. The current rule allows only a three-year window.
The suggestion will be weighed later this month when the NFL owners meet. Approval would require 24 or more yes votes from the 32 clubs.
The Browns stated in the proposal that the longer trade window would “1) would provide Clubs with greater roster-building flexibility, 2) would create more creative trade structures that better mirror the valuations of both draft selections and players, 3) would increase the liquidity of draft capital which supports league-wide parity, 4) would improve alignment with contract and salary cap cycles, and 5) would encourage a more active trade market.”
The proposed change would move the NFL closer to the NBA, which permits draft picks to be dealt up to seven years out.
The only other regulation-change proposal came from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who want to tweak the “legal tampering” period at the start of free agency. Currently, teams can’t speak directly to players during that period, though they can speak to the players’ agents.
The Steelers are asking teams to be allowed to have direct contact with up to five pending unrestricted free agents with one phone or video call per player, during which travel arrangements could be discussed.
Teams would have to report all such contact to the league.
No proposals were made for on-field rules changes. Last year, a proposal to ban the “tush push” play perfected by the Philadelphia Eagles failed to pass.
