Cleveland Browns: 3 players likely on the trading block

3 of 4

Oct 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas (73) jogs onto the field during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Joe Thomas

Another name that began getting thrown around in potential trade conversations midway through last season was Joe Thomas. At first mention that the anchor of Cleveland’s line could be moved, a lot of people might cover their ears and pretend they aren’t hearing that. Well, uncover your ears and let me make some sense of this to you.

Thomas will be entering his tenth season with the Browns, during which he will turn 32 years old. When tackles begin getting to this point in age during their career, success at high levels is no longer a given.

LT seasons played, age at last Pro Bowl

Joe Thomas: 9, 31
____
Roaf: 13, 35
Zimmerman: 12, 35
W. Jones: 12, 34
Ogden: 12, 33
Munoz: 13, 33
— Anthony Lima (@SportsBoyTony) November 3, 2015

While these numbers may present that Thomas might still have three to four years of Pro Bowl play left in him, you must remember the situation the Browns are in. This is a team that is just beginning what could be a five-year rebuild. So sure, those three or four years would be nice while they’re there, but once this team is theoretically ready to compete, Thomas would be on his last legs, if not retired by then.

Especially taking into consideration the increasing strength of defensive ends and outside linebackers in today’s NFL, Thomas could become a target for defenses rather than the side they don’t rush to.

The Browns will seem to be relying heavily on the analytics they’ve talked so much about to this point in the offseason. Analytically, if the right offer was presented, it could be hard for Cleveland to not think about the future of this team, deal away Thomas and begin scouring the 2017 OT class.

Next: The possible odd receiver out

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