Browns: The four ideal trades to improve the team at the trade deadline
By Chad Porto
Why this Works: The Browns would land a top-flight, controllable linebacker prospect, but one with some baggage. Leighton Vander Esch is a good football player with injury issues. If he can recover, stay healthy, and opts to re-sign, then this would be a hell of a steal. Due to the injuries, Dallas can’t expect to get a first-round back for him. Instead, Jacob Phillips, a young rookie linebacker, a third and sixth-round pick would be more than fair. They are essentially getting two third-round picks, and that shouldn’t be discounted. Phillips hasn’t looked good and has dealt with his own injury issues, but that said, there’s potential for both teams to win this deal.
What would it cost: Two draft picks, admittedly one pretty high, but not so high it doesn’t make sense. It would also cost the Browns about $10 million or so if Vander Esch is healthy come 2023, but that seems manageable as the Browns have about $14 million in dead cap that will be off the books by then.
The issues: Jerry Jones is a loyal guy and getting him to trade away a stud middle linebacker like Vander Esch is a stretch. There’s plenty of value going back, but the move would be suspect on Jones’ part regardless of the quality going back.
Trade impact: $2 million-odd dollars against the cap in 2021, and if his option is picked up, around $6 or $7 million in 2022.