2. Jack Conklin
The veteran offensive lineman could follow Smith out of Cleveland if things continue to go south before the deadline.
Conklin signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension in 2022 with the club, but he’s been hit by injuries over the last two years. The 30-year offensive lineman has only played in three games since 2022.
The former first-round pick made his 2024 season debut in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Conklin missed the previous five games with a hamstring injury. The veteran lineman played in one game last season after suffering a torn ACL and MCL in the opener.
However, when he’s healthy, Conklin is an All-Pro right tackle. It might be tough for the Browns to trade the veteran as he has a $10.5 million cap hit this season and a $19.5 million cap hit in 2025.
But Conklin has an out in his contract for 2026, where he has another $19.5 million cap hit. It could be a good long-term gamble for a prospective team who believes the veteran’s health issues are behind him.
According to Pro Football Focus, Conklin has a 66.7 pass block and a 63.9 run block grade, while only giving up four pressures across 114 offensive snaps this season.