These are the four trades the Browns could make to improve every position of need heading into the 2020 NFL trade deadline.
Here’s how this is going to go, we’re fantasy booking these trades to improve the Browns. More than that, we’re looking at each move as a part of the whole. Meaning, each trade would happen alongside one another, not in a vacuum. Not just an either-or situation. So that means that contracts, draft capital, swapping players, all of this is going to factor into what happens. The Browns won’t be able to go out and get a Pro Bowler at every position in this scenario, where would the money come from? How many draft picks would you need to give up? It’d be untenable.
Contracts are going to play a factor, as the goal is to save as much as we can from the Browns $30+ million in cap space. We’re going to eat into that number some, but we’re going to try and save as much as possible. Before we hop in, let’s all admit that the wide receiver position, as well as the linebacking corps, the defensive line, and secondary are the four biggest positions of need.
So with that, who are we trading for and what are we giving up?
Why this Works: It’s a contract for a contract and we have John Elway to thank for making it possible for IR players to be traded. If the Browns trade Beckham before June 1, 2020, they’d only have to pay $250,000 against the cap. The Texans can trade J.J. Watt now without incurring any penalty. Yes, Watt is injury-plagued but so is Beckham. More than that, the Texans aren’t competing this year anyway and would still have Beckham for three more seasons. The Browns, on the other hand, are competing this year. So even though Beckham is on IR, the Texans would have every incentive to go get him in order to pare him with DeShaun Watson for 2021.
What would it cost: As far as draft picks go, there wouldn’t need to be any, in theory. The Texans would have a controllable asset for three years, in an offense that favors passing over rushing. They’d also get rid of a disgruntled player in Watt, who has already said isn’t interested in talking a contract extension with the Texans.
The issues: The Texans may not want to trade Watt, which will be an issue for all of these, but they also may not want a player on the injured reserve, who is again dealing with a career-altering injury. A player can only have so many injuries to a body part before their production becomes severely impacted. That said, with Bill O’Brien gone, the Texans may want to show Watson what’s waiting for him in 2021 after DeAndre Hopkins got traded. For the Browns, they’ve had trade rumors surrounding a Beckham trade since the end of last season. This seems like the way to go.
Trade impact: $1.5 million added against the cap in 2020, $3 million added in 2021.
Why this Works: The Giants need people who can catch for Daniel Jones, and the Browns need help on defense. Bringing back Jabrill Peppers ensures that Karl Joseph never sees the field again and would allow Andrew Sendejo and Ronnie Harrison to play all over the field more. Kyler Fackrell also has some impressive pass-rushing skills and would be an instant starter in a linebacking corp who frankly couldn’t rush a fraternity at this point.
What would it cost: The Browns would not have to pay anything with regards to penalties towards the dead cap if the team traded Njoku. The Browns would have to pay $757,000 more against the cap in 2021 with Peppers (he costs more) on the roster as opposed to Njoku but it’d be worth it to shore up the secondary. Kyler Fackrell’s deal expires after 2020, so while he’d cost a bit this year, it’s barely anything compared to what the Browns are getting back. The two draft picks are so late in the draft, that it’s basically just a little extra gravy to incentivize the move.
The issues: Some may think a sixth and seventh-round pick is too much to send over. Considering how poor late-round picks typically are, this is nothing to give up, especially if Peppers and Fackrell pan out.
Trade impact: $757,000 against the 2021 cap, one less draft pick in 2020 and 2021.
Why this Works: The New York Jets are a dumpster fire, and the Cleveland Browns need help at cornerback. It seems pretty obvious. The Jets aren’t getting anything for Poole, nothing of value anyway. He’s on the last year of his deal and he’s certainly not returning, not if anyone else wants him. The Jets won’t pay him, and if there was an eight-round pick, that’s what the Browns would send over. The Jets would be fools to not take what they can get. Throwing in Braxton Berrios adds depth at the receiver position.
What would it cost: A minor amount against the 2020 cap, and even less against the 2021 cap, unless the Browns want to re-sign them. The seventh-round pick for this upcoming year’s draft isn’t something to worry about as far as trade assets go, nor is the 2023 pick.
The issues: It’s the Jets, and they might overplay their hand, thinking Poole is worth more than he is.
Trade impact: Next to no money against the cap short or long term, but one less pick in the 2021 and the 2023 NFL Draft.
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.
Summary
The Browns would get six players for six late-round draft picks across three years, and three additional players. As far as money against the cap for 2021 goes, you’re looking at just an additional $5.5 million against the 2021 cap, which currently stands at $30,709,629 for this season. That means the Browns would have $25 million next year. That doesn’t factor in the loss of the Olivier Vernon contract, however, which is about $11 million given back to the team
So the Browns without the Vernon contract and the new deals coming in would have about $36 million in cap space next season, and that’s with J.J. Watt’s deal on the books. So the Browns would still be able to make moves, re-sign Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb to longer deals, and set themselves up for a nice future. All while keeping options open for them to acquire an Adam Thielen or Julio Jones if need be.
Here’s what the 2020 Browns depth chart would look like assuming these deals all happened and those dealing with minor injuries are able to return for Week 10.
"QB: Baker Mayfield RB: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt FB: Andy Janovich WR1: Jarvis Landry, Braxton Berrios WR2: Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge TE: Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, Stephen Carlson LT: Jedrick Wills, Kendall Lamm LG: Joel Bitonio, Evan Brown C: J.C. Tretter, Nick Harris RG: Wyatt Teller, Chris Hubbard RT: Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard LE: Myles Garrett, Porter Gustin DT1: Sheldon Richardson, Jordan Elliot DT2: Larry Ogunjobi, Porter Gustin RE: J.J. Watt, Olivier Vernon, Adrian Clayborn WLB: Mack Wilson, Malcolm Smith, MLB: Leighton Vander Esch, B.J. Goodson SLB: Kyler Fackrell, Sione Takitaki LCB: Denzel Ward, Kevin Johnson SS: Ronnie Harrison Jr., Andrew Sendejo FS: Jabrill Peppers, Andrew Sendejo RCB: Brian Poole, Terrance Mitchell PK: Cody Parkey P/H: Jamie Gillen KR/PR: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Dontrell Hillard (KR), D’Ernest Johnson (PR) LS: Charlie Hughlett Estimated 2021 Cap Space: $36 million"