Cleveland Browns: 3 trade targets before the NFL deadline

Michael Thomas – Wide Receiver

I know the Browns have a ton of talent at wide receiver now, but if Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints is truly available, it could be the perfect scenario for the Cleveland Browns.

What better trade chip than a guy like Jarvis Landry or Odell Beckham Jr. Guys who are a little more seasoned and under contract for another year. Remember, the Saints are held to $24 million-plus a year of cap space the next three seasons with Thomas, so taking on one of those contracts would help their cap issues.

Beckham is the better fit of the two, a vertical threat with the quickness that would fit well in Sean Payton’s offense. Could a swap of players and likely a draft pick or two from the Browns to Saints make sense?

The storylines you read are that the relationship between Payton and Thomas is not reparable now. Reparable or not, this is a guy who had over 1,700 receiving yards in 2019 but has been battling injuries ever since.

I know this one seems like a stretch, but who else in the NFL could come up with the cap space, draft equity, and players to get a deal done for Thomas? Also, if the Saints are ready to move on, the cost may not be quite as astronomical as you may think.

If this deal was done, your 2022 receivers would be Thomas, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz, and likely a draft pick. The good news, the Browns would still be spending less on wide receivers in 2022 than in 2021.