One trade would give the Cleveland Browns the offensive weapon they’re missing

The Cleveland Browns would be wise to trade for Atlanta Falcon’s Cordarrelle Patterson.

The reason the Cleveland Browns kept Kareem Hunt past his expiration date, and why the team will likely keep Demetric Felton is that they’re looking for a running back who can catch out of the backfield. They can’t find one, but they keep looking. Maybe they’re looking in the wrong place?

Bleacher Report of all places cooked up a great trade idea for the Browns, in which they acquire Cordarrelle Patterson, the part-time running back, part-time receiver, but full-time playmaker.  Patterson isn’t young, he’s 32 this season, but he’s still got it in him. He had over 800 all-purpose yards this year and over 1,1100 all-purpose yards last year.

His stats fell off because he went from Matt Ryan to Marcus Mariota and Friends. So his receiving yards fell off. Put him in a competent Browns offense, and he may be that missing X-factor that the team has been looking for.

He’d be a stellar backup for Nick Chubb, a third-down running back and receiver, and could probably even be the team’s third or fourth receiver depending on the offensive formation. He’s also not going to cost you a hefty draft pick, nor impact your cap space long-term.

He’s a free agent in 2024.

Plus, if Bleacher Report nailed his value, then a seventh-round pick would be enough to get him. Maybe a sixth-round pick, but still, that’s great value for an actual impact player.

The Cleveland Browns may wait on Cordarrelle Patterson

Patterson would be a huge gift to the Browns and would give the team a wrinkle with him that they don’t have at the moment. They’ve tried with Hunt and Felton, but Patterson is literally the type of player they keep looking for.

He’s available, the Browns have a need for his type of skillset and it won’t cost you much. The Browns may be interested in him, but they may not love him enough to give up a draft pick and take on his salary as is. Especially since many in the NFL believe he’ll be cut by the rebuilding Atlanta Falcons, assuming they can’t find a trade partner for Patterson.

If that’s the case, he may be had for a fraction of the price. But, since he’s a one-year rental, if you have the cap space now, why risk not getting him?

Having watched a lot of him over the last two years, especially when they played the Browns, he’s the type of guy that can put a good offense over the top. Yes, he’s 32, but he was 31 last year and rushed for nearly 5.0 yards per attempt behind a shoddy offensive line.

Even if he takes a half-step back, he’s still a better option than a guy like Felton or Hunt. Yes, it means taking reps away from Jerome Ford this year, but the team’s championship window is not three or four years long. It’s one, maybe two.

This is the kind of player you get if you want instant offense.