Cleveland traded pick No. 43 to Houston in the 2015 draft and…
Cleveland traded pick No. 43 to Houston in the 2015 draft and received Nos. 51, 116 and 195. The Browns used No. 51 on Nate Orchard and No. 195 on Malcolm Johnson, while No. 116 later moved again rather than directly becoming Rodney Gunter for Cleveland. The added volume did not produce a player comparable to Houston linebacker Benardrick McKinney, leaving Cleveland behind in hindsight.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 2015 2nd round pick (51st overall, Nate Orchard )
- pick 2015 4th round pick (116th overall; subsequently traded by Cleveland)
- pick 2015 6th round pick (195th overall, Malcolm Johnson )
Houston Texans Received
- pick 2015 2nd round pick (43rd overall, Benardrick McKinney )
- pick 2015 7th round pick (229th overall; subsequently traded by Houston)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Houston moved to No. 43 in the 2015 draft and selected linebacker Benardrick McKinney. Cleveland received picks Nos. 51, 116 and 195, while Houston also received No. 229. Cleveland used No. 51 on Nate Orchard and No. 195 on Malcolm Johnson. No. 116 later changed hands, so Rodney Gunter is a later pick-use outcome rather than a direct Cleveland acquisition from Houston.
Cleveland Browns Return
Cleveland traded pick No. 43 to Houston in the 2015 draft and received Nos. 51, 116 and 195. The Browns used No. 51 on Nate Orchard and No. 195 on Malcolm Johnson, while No. 116 later moved again rather than directly becoming Rodney Gunter for Cleveland. The added volume did not produce a player comparable to Houston linebacker Benardrick McKinney, leaving Cleveland behind in hindsight.
Houston Texans Return
Houston moved up to No. 43 in the 2015 draft and selected Benardrick McKinney, sending Cleveland Nos. 51, 116 and 195 while also receiving No. 229. McKinney developed into a productive long-term linebacker and became the most valuable player directly connected to the transaction. Cleveland's extra selections failed to create comparable impact, giving Houston a clear win without needing credit for later downstream pick movement.
Value in Hindsight
Cleveland had more pieces, but Houston landed the best player. That is the recurring risk in moving down: several lower selections must collectively beat the higher prospect the other club targets. Here, Orchard and Johnson did not approach McKinney's sustained value, and later movement of the other picks should not be treated as direct player returns for either team.
Final Verdict
Houston receives a B+ and Cleveland a C. The Texans turned their move up into Benardrick McKinney, a durable and productive starter, while Cleveland's larger collection of selections produced limited long-term value. The difference is clear enough for a Houston Texans Win.