Cleveland Browns received 2015 3rd round pick (96th overall,…
Cleveland Browns received 2015 3rd round pick (96th overall, Xavier Cooper) and 2015 7th round pick (219th overall, Hayes Pullard) in the 2015-05-01 exchange with New England Patriots. Xavier Cooper and Hayes Pullard did not become lasting Browns cornerstones, limiting the realized return from Cleveland's two selections. The stronger overall return belongs to New England Patriots.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 2015 3rd round pick (96th overall, Xavier Cooper )
- pick 2015 7th round pick (219th overall, Hayes Pullard )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2015 4th round pick (111th overall, Tre' Jackson )
- pick 2015 5th round pick (147th overall; subsequently traded by New England)
- pick 2015 6th round pick (202nd overall, A.J. Derby )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 2015-05-01, Cleveland Browns received 2015 3rd round pick (96th overall, Xavier Cooper) and 2015 7th round pick (219th overall, Hayes Pullard), while New England Patriots received 2015 4th round pick (111th overall, Tre' Jackson), 2015 5th round pick (147th overall; subsequently traded by New England), and 2015 6th round pick (202nd overall, A.J. Derby). The direct package is the basis for the hindsight grade. Later movement of an acquired pick can explain how value developed, but it does not change what these two clubs exchanged.
Cleveland Browns Return
Xavier Cooper and Hayes Pullard did not become lasting Browns cornerstones, limiting the realized return from Cleveland's two selections. The key question for Cleveland Browns is how much practical roster value that return produced for the club itself. Playing contribution, starts, specialist service and retained draft value matter more than the simple number of pieces received.
New England Patriots Return
New England received three draft assets and later preserved additional value by moving No. 147 in separate business, giving the Patriots the cleaner total outcome. The same standard applies to New England Patriots: realized football value matters more than the appearance of the package on the transaction date. If a pick moved again later, that later move is separate from the direct return here.
Value in Hindsight
Cleveland received Nos. 96 Xavier Cooper and 219 Hayes Pullard. New England received Nos. 111, 147 and 202, then moved No. 147 in a separate transaction that helped produce Joe Cardona and Darryl Roberts. Cardona became a decade-long Patriots long snapper and multiple-title contributor, giving New England the cleaner hindsight value once direct assets and downstream conversion are separated correctly. The comparison therefore turns on durable contribution rather than draft position, name recognition or transaction complexity alone.
Final Verdict
New England Patriots receives a B and Cleveland Browns a C. The verdict is New England Patriots Win because new england received three draft assets and later preserved additional value by moving no. 147 in separate business, giving the patriots the cleaner total outcome. The grade spread reflects the realized difference without overstating the scale of the transaction.