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Cleveland Browns: 3 trade targets before the NFL deadline

By Greg Newland

Dec 22, 2019; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2019; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
Jun 3, 2021; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) goes through drills during voluntary Organized Team Activities at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Jaylon Smith – Linebacker

It’s hard to believe that the Dallas Cowboys would look to move on from former second-round pick, Jaylon Smith, especially after signing him to an extension.

The fact of the matter is, the Cowboys are paying Smith nearly $10 million in 2021 to be a backup linebacker. After a breakout year in 2020 (when the defense was awful), Smith has found himself behind Keanu Neal, Michah Parsons, and Leighton Vander Esch on the depth chart.

Dallas will be motivated to move on from Smith because of the cap hit he carries for the next four seasons but will struggle because of the $16.6 million in dead money they will lose.

Smith has seen more and more playing time because of injuries on the Cowboys’ defense, but if guys are able to get healthy and he goes back to the bench, he could be a guy you see moved before the trade deadline.

I know the Browns have Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Jacob Phillips, but Smith has the athleticism the really flourish in Joe Woods’s defense. JOK could look at the potential of playing more of a safety role, and Phillips has yet to not be hurt in an NFL season.

Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson both have no dead money on their contracts and will be easy to walk away from at the end of 2021. This would be a luxury for the Browns at a position with not a lot of value, but I see him as a potentially huge asset.

Editors note: After submission of this article, but before the release, Smith was let go by Dallas. Now if the Browns were interested, he could be added without giving up any assets.

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