Two offensive linemen Cleveland Browns should target through trade

The Cleveland Browns offensive line this season has been everything but consistent. It’s time to make some big moves on the trade market. There are a few quality offensive linemen up for trade, so let’s take a look at who is available.

The Cleveland Browns offensive line has looked awful this season at some points, and has looked like an elite unit at others. Whether this be through playcalling, overall scheme fit, or opposing defense’s gameplans, something needs to change. The tackle position seems to have been the most exposed this season, as veterans Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard aren’t playing up to the levels they played last season.

John Dorsey has been a great team-builder so far in his tenure with the Browns, albeit he had some great pieces to work with before. He has built one of the most talented rosters in the NFL and doesn’t have many trade assets to work with at this point. He has his all his picks minus some late round draft picks for the next two drafts, and if he’s all in on winning this season, it’s time to move them.

As a disclaimer, I am not a fan of continuously trading away first round draft picks at all. At one point, this tactic will bite the Browns in the future. Last year was definitely worth it, considering Odell Beckham Jr’s talent level. There are no offensive linemen out there on the trade block that are worth nearly what Odell was worth to the team last year. Giving up our first this year means we will be missing out on a top player for a cheap few years, as I have faith in Dorsey’s drafting skills.

With that being said, the most obvious candidate for trade is Trent Williams. The 31 year old offensive tackle has been elite since he has entered the NFL. He is a seven time pro bowler and has been my favorite offensive lineman to watch not on the Cleveland Browns. His current feud with the Washington Redskins is over their medical staff. That’s a whole separate story than this one, but is a very interesting situation.

Trent Williams currently has this year and the next season on his contract. With a base salary of about $9 million and $12.5 million dollars respectively, he will be an expensive commodity for the Browns to acquire. Trent seems to be desperate to get out of Washington, so hopefully he would be willing to restructure his contract to play for a new team. Don’t get me wrong, he is worth every penny he’s on track to make, but it would make sense to see him add another year or two on his contract so he can retire wherever he gets traded to.

The price tag for Trent Williams would most likely be a first round pick. If I was John Dorsey, I would offer up Greg Robinson or Chris Hubbard and a 2nd round pick for Williams, and settle on a straight up 1st in a trade.

Garett Bolles is another name to watch for on the trade market. The Broncos have him under contract for cheap through 2020, and then have his 5th year option for 2021. It seems unlikely that they would be willing to part with their starting left tackle, but there have been rumors that they might be open to trading away some veterans for draft capital.

Bolles has had a good NFL career so far, but hasn’t been living up to the hype of a first round pick. Watch for the Broncos to consider moving on from him, since he is already 27 years old and will be 30 when he is up for a new contract. The Broncos are also looking at potentially being sellers at the trade deadline. Bolles has had a problem with holding this season, but I have faith that a good offensive line coach like James Campen can get the best out of him. I could see the Browns giving up a mid round pick in exchange for Bolles, maybe a 4th or 5th round pick.

If the Browns don’t make a move for an offensive tackle sometime before the trade deadline, I will be very surprised. These two guys make the most sense at the moment for trade targets, but John Dorsey could surprise us and come up with something no one expects.

Until a trade is made, fans will just have to hope that second half of the 2018 season Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard make an appearance sometime soon.