The other All-Pro offensive tackle Cleveland Browns could trade for

The Cleveland Browns are currently in need of an offensive tackle. The Philadelphia Eagles are currently in need of some skill players and have great depth at offensive tackle. A trade between the two teams seems inevitable, but not for the players you’d think.

It has been reported that Philadelphia Eagles backup offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai is one of the more likely offensive linemen to be moved at the 2019 NFL Trading Deadline. However, this isn’t the offensive tackle the Cleveland Browns should be targeting. Former All-Pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson should be the goal for the team to acquire.

The biggest hole on the Browns offensive line is currently the right tackle position. Chris Hubbard was given a large contract, but hasn’t performed anywhere near the standard his contract implies. Johnson would be able to anchor down the position that has been open for the Browns ever since they mistakenly let Mitchell Schwartz walk in free agency.

The first question you may be asking is why the Eagles would let Lane Johnson go instead of letting Vaitai go. Lane Johnson has a high cash tag for the next few seasons. According to Spotrac, Johnson has a cap hit of $13.6 million and $13.7 million in the 2020 and 2021 NFL seasons, which is a steep price for a team like Philly, who has other holes that need to be filled to remain relevant for Super Bowl conversations.

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They’re currently stacked at offensive tackle, with future hall of famer Jason Peters anchoring down the left side, his apparent heir to the throne and former first round pick Andre Dillard waiting behind him, solid backup Halapoulivaati Vaitai who has shown talent in the 17 NFL starts he has made so far in his career, and former rugby player Jordan Mailata who they continue to groom into an eventual NFL tackle.

That’s five big bodies at tackle they currently have who all seem to have the potential to be solid NFL tackles in their career, or are already solid NFL tackles. Even though Peters will be retiring soon, that still leaves them with a roster of four potential starting offensive tackles.

Sending their best one of those four to the Browns might not be ideal, but they could ask for a pretty penny. Whether that be a first-round pick, or a plethora of players, the Browns should oblige.

T.J. Carrie or Rashard Higgins might be players that the Eagles will be interested in. Damarious Randall or Joe Schobert could also possibly be players that peak their interested. If I was John Dorsey, I would be more than willing to give up two of those aforementioned players in a trade for Lane Johnson.

The only combination of the previously mentioned players I would not give up would be Randall and Schobert.

With the Browns depth at cornerback being pretty apparent, giving up Carrie and Higgins for Lane Johnson would be the most ideal trade, even though I doubt the Eagles would accept that without at least a late-round pick from the Browns. Cleveland still has a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, but it’s unconfirmed if it is our own or the Cardinals 6th round pick. Either way, I would move that in a potential deal for Lane Johnson.

It’s unlikely you’d see a Browns-Eagles trade revolving around Lane Johnson, but do not count it out of the picture. Whether it be Lane Johnson or Halapoulivaati Vaitai, one of the Eagles offensive tackles will be on the move by the end of the 2019 NFL trade deadline.

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Lets just hope whichever one it is they do trade, that player ends up wearing a Browns jersey by the end of the season.

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