by The 2023 NFL Trade Deadline is this week, and the Cleveland Browns have several holes due to injuries that may need filled. They do not have a ton of draft stock or expiring contracts to make a lot of things happen, but there are still several options that they may be able to pull off. In fact, with Deshaun Watson on the shelve for at least 4 more weeks, and Nick Chubb done for the year, the Browns have 3 options available to them, that could at least keep the season alive until Watson gets back, and hopefully plays well. Let’s take a look at them.
Running Back Derek Henry
Current Team – Tennessee Titans
Reason the Titans may trade him – Expiring contract and they appear to be rebuilding.
Reason the Browns need him – With Nick Chubb out for the year, Hunt made to be a 3rd down back at this point in his career, and Jerome Ford nursing a bum ankle, the Browns needs a back to carry the load, and they can be the former NFL league leading rusher, Derek Henry!
What it would cost – Despite the fact the Titans will not have Henry next year, they don’t want to give him away for nothing either. I can see them accepting no less than a third-round pick.
Running back Dalvin Cook
Current Team – New York Jets
Reason the Jets may trade him – Despite a wonderful career in Minnesota that saw him attend four NFL Pro Bowls, his short run in New York has been a disaster. In just 4 games on the active roster of the Jets, he only has 74 yards on 30 attempts. He wants out of New York asap, and the Jets appear to have no use for the guy Kevin Stefanski coached once before.
Reason the Browns need him – With Nick Chubb out for the year, Hunt made to be a 3rd down back at this point in his career, and Jerome Ford hurt, the Browns needs a back to carry the load. Keep in mind, Cook rushed for 5,024 yards in his last 4 years in Minnesota before this season, going for over 1,000 each time. Also, in 2019, his third year in the league, Stefanski was the OC of the Vikings and took him to his first 1,000 yard season.
What it would cost – The Jets appear desperate to get rid of him, and the sources in New York are reporting Cook has demanded a trade twice in the last two weeks. I would have to imagine the Browns get him for a 5th rounder. Keep in mind, Cook rushed for 5,024 yards in his last 4 years in Minnesota before this season, going for over 1,000 each time.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett
Current Team = Washinton Commanders
Reason the Commanders may trade him – They are doing nothing with the backup and don’t stand a chance to do anything of note in the NFC East this year.
Reason the Browns need him – PJ Walker has won two games leading the Browns, but the strength of an incredible defense and pure freak luck, two weeks in a row. In two games with the Browns, PJ Walker has gotten them into field goal position enough times to win. Walker nearly gave the game away with a horrific pass against the 49ers inside of two minutes at the goal line that was almost picked. The Browns survived and won.
He almost lost the game again in Indy when he took a sack that led to a fumble. The Browns got lucky again that there was a horrible illegal hand to the face call that kept the ball with the Browns, and they won again a few plays later when Kareem Hunt took over. Two last minute drives where horrific penalties helped the Browns win, not PJ Walker.
His has gone 33 of 66 for 370 yards with 3 interceptions and 0 touchdown passes. PJ Walker is not the answer long term, no one in their right mind would think that, but can he do enough to keep these games in contention to possibly get a few fluke plays to win it in the end like they have both of the last two weeks. Honestly, let’s call a spade a spade here, defense and horrific officiating have won the Browns their last two games.
The Cleveland Browns under Brissett in 2022 went 4-7 in his 11 games as a starter. But, out of those 7 losses, can we really blame them all on him? He had no defense last year and should have fared well much better. In their loss against the Jets week two, he had them up by 13 with less than 90 seconds too go. It is not his fault his defense gave up 300 plus yards and 4 touchdowns to Joe Flacco.
Against the Atlanta Falcons and LA Chargers, he had them in position to win, Cade York simply couldn’t make a kick against the Chargers, and the Falcons game play calling by Stefanski was hideous. Against Baltimore, he only tossed 5 incompletions all game as they lost by 3.
The Browns defense gave up 100 plus yards to a guy in Gus Edwards who hadn’t played in over a year. In their Halloween night win over Cincy, Brissett had a gem as he tossed 278 yards, and had touchdowns rushing and passing. Against Tom Brady and the Tampa Buccaneers, he led a classic two-minute drill to tie the game, and then led the Browns to an overtime win.
The bottom line is that with any help from the defense last year, and even decent play calling from Stefanski the Browns go 8-3 in that 11-game run with Brissett, and not 4-7. Again, I’m not saying he is the long-term answer, and I don’t think anyone being honest would. But with the options on the table and Watson likely headed to the IR for either 4 games or the rest of the season, he may be the only option left to hold things together and give the Browns a fighting chance.
What would it cost – The Commanders know they have the Browns by the throat if Cleveland calls, that means they are getting him with nothing lower than a third rounder.
MORE ON NEXT PAGE
