Cleveland Browns: One trade target from all other 31 teams

Curtis Samuel is a very speedy and very talented player. That’s why it’s a bit strange that an offensive coordinator as skilled as the Panthers have in Joe Brady has struggled at times to get Samuel involved. As talented as he is, he finds himself on the outside looking in as far as wide receiver targets go, and while he has run the ball a bit more with Christian McCaffrey on the IR,  he has still yet to make his presence truly felt this season.

The Cleveland Browns need to bring Curtis Samuel back a little closer to where he thrived in his college days at Ohio State. With the loss of Odell Beckham Jr. for the remainder of the season, the targets in the Cleveland passing game will likely be spread out amongst many players. Perhaps a change of scenery for the shifty receiver will be what he needs to truly break out as a dynamic NFL player.

Sure, Samuel is in his fourth NFL season, and it’s unsure if he would be interested in resigning in Cleveland if he were to be traded there. But wide receiver is one of the biggest needs, and the failure to improve at that position prior to the trade deadline could be the difference in the Browns just missing the playoffs or making a surprisingly deeper than expected playoff run.

Rumors surrounding the trading of wide receiver Allen Robinson have been swirling for weeks, and while the Bears seem intent on keeping the receiver and working on a long-term extension, there has not been any real news on any progress being made in those contract talks. With the Browns being without their star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for the rest of the season, and needing to fill that void, it may be wise to trade for the receiver who doesn’t seem to want to be in Chicago long term.

Sure, the contract situation the Browns currently have with both Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry makes it hard to see them targeting another high-priced receiver, especially one that is likely to want a new contract guarantee before being traded. But if the Browns truly want to get a number one receiver that Baker Mayfield can have success with, their best bet may be to trade for Robinson.

The trade would likely also cost more than the Browns would want to give up, in terms of compensation. A few higher round draft picks may be something the Bears look for in return for Robinson, who has played well this season despite the contract troubles. But playing well through this adversity is one reason the Browns should make the call and see about acquiring Robinson. A player that can play that well through distractions could help put a team over the top, especially on a young team like the Browns.

The Cincinnati Bengals have already made one large move leading up to the trade deadline, trading away veteran pass rusher Carlos Dunlap to the Seattle Seahawks. It makes sense for them to unload another long-time Bengal, this time shipping away defensive tackle Geno Atkins. The perfect location to trade him to? Just a few hours away to Cleveland.

While the Bengals are making it known that Atkins is not available in trade, teams are still calling the rebuilding Bengals in hopes to get the veteran defensive tackle, who is under contract until 2023. With the Cleveland Browns having struggles on the interior of their defensive line, with players not playing up the level expected of them, they could be one of the prime candidates to call Cincinnati and try to acquire the talents of Geno Atkins. Adding a veteran like him to a young defense that needs leaders on every level would be a huge step in the right direction for a Browns team looking to show that their 5-2 record is no fluke.