"Twice in the past three years, the Browns traded down in the first round of the draft.

That trend has frustrated at least one season-ticket holder, who emailed a beat reporter recently and said if it happened again in 2012, he was through with the team he loves.

When that message was relayed to General Manager Tom Heckert on Thursday, Heckert's reaction might not bode well for the disgruntled fan's renewal.

"Geez. Now that's pressure there," Heckert said.

Heckert has traded down in the first round once in his two drafts, the other coming during the regime of former coach Eric Mangini. In 2009, Mangini slid from No. 5 to No. 21 in deals with the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles before nabbing Cal center Alex Mack at No. 21.

Heckert's trade was more of a blockbuster. He gave the sixth overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons last April, allowing the Falcons to select receiver Julio Jones. The Browns got the Falcons' first-, second- and fourth-round picks in 2011 and its first- and fourth-rounders in 2012. (Heckert later traded the 27th overall pick and the Browns' third-rounder to the Kansas City Chiefs to take Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor at No. 21.) The picks from the Falcons brought receiver Greg Little to the Browns in the second round and fullback Owen Marecic in the fourth round.

Heckert clearly loves to stockpile picks, especially with the number of holes he has to fill as the Browns rebuild.

"If I could have all these picks every year it would be great," Heckert said of the Browns' stash, currently at nine.

Now that the Browns hold the fourth selection in the April 26-28 draft, along with the Falcons' first-rounder (which won't be decided until they're eliminated from the playoffs), Heckert has leverage to wheel and deal. President Mike Holmgren called Heckert "my car salesman friend" in their season-ending press conference.

If Heckert doesn't want to spend the fourth pick on a quarterback or on Alabama running back Trent Richardson, another trade down isn't out of the question."