Browns: Cleveland could be a trade partner for Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore

The Browns aren’t done making moves this offseason and we all know that, but to what extent are they willing to move and for what? We know they’ll draft at least one player in the 2021 NFL Draft, and with nine draft picks it could be even more than just one (it’ll be more than one). We also know that the Browns aren’t done in free agent with all the Jadeveon Clowney talk, even if they don’t end up signing him, they’ll sign someone else eventually. What about trades? Enter Stephon Gilmore.

Now, the talk around Gilmore to the Browns isn’t anything new. In fact, it’s one of Earth’s oldest rumors. Right there with the aliens built the pyramids, and Jack the Ripper being a woman; that’s how old the Gilmore-to-Cleveland rumor has existed.

The only problem right now is what will the cap look like if the Browns do sign Clowney. The Browns have about $13 million in cap space and Gilmore would only cost the Browns about $7 million. If Clowney signs for less than $6 million, the Browns could get both.

What about the extensions and rookies though? In 2019, the Browns rookie pool capped out just under $6 million; just to give you an idea of what the crop of guys could cost. Since the Browns are picking later in the draft, they won’t have to spend as much on their rookies as opposed if they were in the top 10.

So even if you are able to acquire both Gilmore and Clowney, you still have to make space. That’s when names like Sheldon Richardson, David Njoku, or even Odell Beckham Jr. come into play; as all three men are on deals that carry no dead cap number. So the Browns would only have to worry about the contract of a returning player – if one is sent back  – and not any contractual salary cap penalties.

The Patriots have made no inclining if that they want to re-sign him, and while he’s just two years removed from a Defensive Player of the Year winning season, he had a slightly down year in 2020. With Cleveland’s crop of corners, Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, and Greedy Williams, if Gilmore were to land in Cleveland then he’d have a lot of help and could probably return to form to some degree.

Heck, sending Beckham to New England for Gilmore straight up is a lot of people’s favorite fantasy these days. Something had to knock “dinner with Cleveland’s own Halle Berry” from the top spot eventually.

Gilmore makes this team defense better.

Do it, Andrew Berry.