Cleveland Browns make a smart, surprising trade for Brock Osweiler

The Cleveland Browns made a surprising trade by taking on Brock Osweiler’s contract from the Houston Texans to acquire more assets.

Before you panic, let’s break down the trade the Cleveland Browns made to acquire Brock Osweiler, as explained by Adam Schefter.

So the Browns acquire Osweiler to take him off Houston’s books, and could even cut him today if they want.

As Schefter explained, this is not a move often seen in the NFL, which is why fans may be shocked it happened. The Browns wanted that 2018 second-round pick, and have the cap space to take on Osweiler, whether that means cutting him right away, trading him, or keeping him on the roster for a year.

Now with all the money owed to Osweiler in 2017, the Browns may as well keep him, at least as a backup quarterback if they can’t find a trade partner. If they have to pay him regardless, it doesn’t hurt to have another voice in a young quarterback room.

That, or they can immediately put him on the trading block, although they would have to swing a friendly deal to get another team to agree to it. But with quarterbacks with starting experience becoming a premium, the Browns may be able to find a team to give Osweiler another chance.

The New York Jets are said to be shopping the No. 6 overall pick, so maybe the Browns could send Osweiler there to move up and draft a quarterback. If the Browns pay most of his salary, it could be a solid move for both sides. Well, unless you are a Jets fan.

So while on the surface this move may scare some people, don’t expect Osweiler to be in Cleveland for long.

Next: Browns sign Zeitler

The team is in no way committing to him as the starter of the future, and at best he is a highly-paid backup who serves as an upgrade over Robert Griffin III. But that is if he makes it through the week as a member of the Browns.