Cleveland Browns received Kenyon Coleman, Abram Elam, Brett…
Cleveland Browns received Kenyon Coleman, Abram Elam, Brett Ratliff, 2009 1st round pick (17th overall; subsequently traded by Cleveland), and 2009 2nd round pick (52nd overall, David Veikune) in the 2009-04-25 exchange with New York Jets. Cleveland received three players plus two substantial picks, and the package gave the Browns multiple immediate and future avenues for value. That gives Cleveland Browns the stronger overall return.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Kenyon Coleman
- player Abram Elam
- player Brett Ratliff
- pick 2009 1st round pick (17th overall; subsequently traded by Cleveland)
- pick 2009 2nd round pick (52nd overall, David Veikune )
New York Jets Received
- pick 2009 1st round pick (5th overall, Mark Sanchez )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 2009-04-25, Cleveland Browns received Kenyon Coleman, Abram Elam, Brett Ratliff, 2009 1st round pick (17th overall; subsequently traded by Cleveland), and 2009 2nd round pick (52nd overall, David Veikune), while New York Jets received 2009 1st round pick (5th overall, Mark Sanchez). 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
Cleveland received three players plus two substantial picks, and the package gave the Browns multiple immediate and future avenues for value. 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 York Jets Return
Sanchez helped New York reach consecutive AFC Championship Games, but his uneven longer arc kept the move from becoming a durable franchise-quarterback payoff. The same standard applies to New York Jets: 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
The Jets moved to No. 5 for Mark Sanchez by sending Cleveland Kenyon Coleman, Abram Elam, Brett Ratliff, No. 17 and No. 52. Sanchez produced two AFC Championship Game runs but an uneven longer arc. Cleveland also turned the No. 17 asset through additional draft-day moves that ultimately helped create Alex Mack value. The full hindsight record supports a Cleveland win, but not an exaggerated runaway grade. The comparison therefore turns on durable contribution rather than draft position, name recognition or transaction complexity alone.
Final Verdict
Cleveland Browns receives a B+ and New York Jets a C. The verdict is Cleveland Browns Win because cleveland received three players plus two substantial picks, and the package gave the browns multiple immediate and future avenues for value. The grade spread reflects the realized difference without overstating the scale of the transaction.