Cleveland Browns trade chatter: Dwayne Haskins to the Browns

Dwayne Haskins to the Cleveland Browns makes for one some crazy trade chatter.

The idea of the the Washington Football Team trading the Cleveland Browns former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins is unusual and doesn’t really add up ahead of the NFL’s Week 6 trading deadline.

However, NBC Sports’ Ryan Homler laid out three potential landing spots for the former Ohio State Buckeye, and listed his reasons as to why Cleveland should be a potential suitors.

Washington’s all but given up on Haskins, a player who was immediately handed adversity as rumors over a split between the front office and the coaching staff, which was led by Jay Gruden at the time, should draft him.

After starting the year as QB1, Haskins now finds himself third on the depth chart, behind Kyle Allen and Alex Smith.

Homler contends the Browns should look at Haskins because of the rib injury suffered by Baker Mayfield against the Colts. The injury seemed to take its toll against the Steelers in Week 6, as Mayfield was pulled when the game became out of reach.

Homler’s reasoning is all about depth when it comes to Haskins. He argued that Haskins beat out current Browns backup Case Keenum for the job in Washington last season. Additionally, he believes Haskins would thrive in Stefanski’s system, which takes the pressure off the quarterback.

While the author paints the picture of making an insurance move against Mayfield’s ribs, the Browns would have to know the spotlight that would shine on the quarterback position if Haskins comes to Cleveland.

Like Haskins, Mayfield hasn’t exactly gotten a fair shake some coming to Cleveland, as he’s on his fourth head coach in three seasons. That said, time is ticking for Mayfield to prove himself to ownership, as well as higher-ups such as Andrew Berry and Paul DePodesta.

Mayfield becomes eligible for a contract extension after the season, but the Browns can’t award a field general that got his rear-end kicked in Pittsburgh with a massive extension.

In truth, the Browns are still probably deciding on Mayfield’s future. They’re going to need every game of the 2020 season–and probably 2021 before they come to a conclusion. That means Cleveland can punt on Mayfield’s extension by simply picking up his fifth-year option at season’s end.

With most Browns fans doubling as Buckeye fans on the weekends, Haskins’ name is sure to generate excitement.

And, if this out-of-left-field trade comes to fruition, the Browns will be sending a big-time message regarding how they feel about Mayfield–and at this point, I just don’t see it happening.