Cleveland moved down two spots, selected center Alex Mack at…
Cleveland moved down two spots, selected center Alex Mack at No. 21 and also added the No. 195 pick used on James Davis. Mack became an elite, long-term Browns centerpiece, making the modest move down extremely productive. The extra sixth-round selection only strengthened a return that already compared favorably with Philadelphia's very good result.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 2009 1st round pick (21st overall, Alex Mack )
- pick 2009 6th round pick (195th overall, James Davis )
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 2009 1st round pick (19th overall, Jeremy Maclin )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On April 25, 2009, Philadelphia moved from No. 21 to No. 19 in the first round and selected Jeremy Maclin. Cleveland moved down two spots, selected Alex Mack at No. 21 and also received the No. 195 pick used on James Davis. Both teams got a player they wanted, making this a strong trade for each side rather than a failure for Philadelphia.
Cleveland Browns Return
Mack became the foundation of Cleveland's side of the deal. The center developed into an elite long-term player for the Browns, providing high-level performance at a premium interior position for years. Cleveland achieved that while moving down only two spots and also added a sixth-round choice. Even though James Davis did not define the transaction, the extra pick increased the package's overall value.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Maclin became a productive receiver for Philadelphia and justified the decision to move up. The Eagles were not chasing a player who failed to contribute; they acquired an important offensive weapon who delivered multiple useful seasons. That outcome deserves a B+ and keeps the trade from being framed as a mistake simply because Cleveland's return turned out even better.
Value in Hindsight
The Browns' advantage comes from combining quantity with elite quality. Cleveland obtained Mack, the best long-term player in the exchange, plus another selection, while surrendering only two draft slots. Philadelphia still received substantial value from Maclin, so the grade gap should be much smaller than an extreme winner-loser split. This is a case where one successful side was simply outperformed by another.
Final Verdict
Cleveland receives an A and Philadelphia receives a B+. The Browns win because Mack became an elite long-term centerpiece and the extra sixth-round pick added value, while Maclin still made the Eagles' trade-up a successful move.