The Cleveland Browns may not just draft or sign talent to fill holes. The team has made trades in the past to mixed results but should look to do so again.
The Cleveland Browns need to make moves to improve this team, and it shouldn’t be afraid to go back to the ol’ trade-well. Sure, the Browns have made many, many terrible trades in the past or worse, failed to capitalize off of the ones the team got right, but that doesn’t mean the team shouldn’t again make a play for specific players who aren’t free agents.
The team needs to improve both sides of their line, their secondary, their receiver corp and fill in gaps behind just about everyone else. Positions like tight end can be improved via the free-agent market or the draft. So looking to go get a tight end via trade isn’t necessary. Same with receivers. The team needs a slot receiver and a few backups. Even if Odell Beckham continues to diminish talent-wise, while being unable to stay healthy and even if Jarvis Landry’s hip becomes problematic or affects him long term; the team still has two viable starters and shouldn’t waste draft capital to improve those spots.
The price will obviously be important for all of these trades. If someone is asking for three first-round picks for 30-something linemen, you scoff and leave the negotiations. The team shouldn’t be afraid of maybe giving up a little more to get that right player though. It boggles the mind when you see people say “We gave up a 3rd rounder? I would’ve given them a 4th but not a 3rd!”
Why not? Do you really think a third-round pick is going to turn into a Hall of Famer? Draft picks are all about potential. They’re the mystery box of player evaluation. Everyone who grades draft prospects is just guessing.
Don’t ever forget that Mel Kiper once described Jamarcus Russell as a potential “top five” quarterback in the league eventually and that Russell had John Elway “like” skill. Don’t put more stock in draft picks than they deserve. If you can get a guaranteed player for three or five years, do it because a freshly drafted NFL prospect has an average career length of 3.3. years.
That doesn’t mean you trade your entire draft, it just means you shouldn’t be afraid to move some pieces. So let’s look at the three players the Browns should pursue via trade.
Washington Redskins – OT Trent Williams
Trent Williams is a bit older, at 31 years old. He isn’t by any means ‘done’ as an elite blocker, however. If you want to shore up the left side of the line, you don’t ‘gamble’ on a draft prospect, you make a trade. There is no guarantee that any prospect can do what the team needs them to do. Williams secures the offensive line right away and automatically makes the left side a run and pass blocking nightmare.
The Redskins are hoping that Williams wants to stay in the Nation’s Captial, but with how badly that relationship has been over the years, that seems unlikely. You can fire all the head coaches you want, but Dan Snyder is still the owner. With him as the owner, it’s unlikely the team will ever really find success again. Williams knows how this team is run and surely wants to be put in a better position to win.
Surely, the same things can be said about the Browns to some degree, but at least this team is desperate to change and isn’t resting on broken laurels. Snyder knows his method isn’t working but refuses to truly change. The Browns, however, are the antithesis, with their finger hovering above the ‘Ejection Button’ every time a team underperforms.
So yes, the Browns are a better destination for Williams and no, he isn’t a long term answer at the position but he gives Baker Mayfield his best blocker to date and a reliable option at left tackle, something Mayfield has never had on the pro level.
New York Giants – OT Nate Solder
The New York Giants should expect another off-season phone call from the Browns. Nate Solder was one of the better linemen for the New England Patriots for a few years before getting dealt to the ghastly Giants. He still has two years left on his deal at about $15.5 million a year.
The Giants are unhappy with Solder’s performance and even Solder is open to a position change. At this point, the Giants should just be happy with the removal of his contract from the roster. So nothing more than a few 6th and 7th round picks spread over a few years should be given up. He’s by no means worth a lot. In fact, a swap of players (perhaps Oliver Vernon?) and picks would be best.
Solder wouldn’t be the left tackle on the Browns, heck he might not even be the right tackle. Moving him to right guard might make sense considering in more run focused teams, you want your guards to be big enough and strong enough to move people off the line of scrimmage. Solder brings that size and strength. His footwork might be the issue and that’s a big thing needed to play tackle in the NFL.
Solder’s poor play may not be all about diminishing skill, which is good. Solder had family issues in 2019 and was dealing with significant injuries in 2018. Assuming his family is happy and healthy, and he’s happy and healthy, he might just be worth the risk. Again, not much of a risk, but still worth it.
Either way, he’s not THE ANSWER, merely AN ANSWER for the offensive line. He’d be brought in either with a first-round rookie to play the left side of the line or with Williams as upgrades via two separate trades.
Detroit Lions – CB Darius Slay/Denver Bronco – CB Chris Harris Jr
This one is less about the position and more about the consequences of it. Both Chris Harris Jr. and Darius Slay are good (enough) cover corners. They’re also both around 30 and are slowing down. The Browns aren’t desperate for corner help but the move makes sense because of what happens to some corners as they age.
They change positions. If they want that is.
Both Slay and Harris can move to free safety and play more zone coverage, and less man. That way they don’t need to worry so much about the physicality and speed needed to try to keep up with the receivers. Instead, they can use their instincts and knowledge to stay relevant and competitive on the field.
Hall of Fame talent like Charles Woodson, Aneas Williams, Rod Woodson, Ronnie Lott, and Ronde Barber all moved to safety at some point in their careers. There’s even more modern Pro Bowl talent who’ve done it, like the Patriots’ Devin McCourty or the Bills’ Troy Vincent. There are plenty of examples of older talent moving positions to prolong their career and even having success from it.
There are even examples of younger players doing it, like former Arizona Cardinals Tyrann Mathieu who played college as a cornerback, or another former Cardinal in Antrel Rolle. So if a player like Slay or Harris proves to be better at corner than the younger guys ahead of them, then maybe a move for Greedy Williams could be in order. Either way, this move bolsters the secondary and adds flexibility to roster spots, personnel and position management