Don’t expect Cleveland Browns to get in on Russell Wilson sweepstakes

It’s becoming an annual thing as we are again talking about Russell Wilson leaving Seattle, but don’t expect the Cleveland Browns to be bidders

Year after year, the idea that Russell Wilson could be traded by the Seattle Seahawks gets floated — even though year after year he continues to play for them. This season, however, the whispers are growing louder and there are more signs than ever that the relationship between the former Super Bowl winner and the only franchise he’s ever played for is coming to an end.

And with that being the case, the watch is going to be on when trying to see where the potential future Hall of Famer might go. One team that should be scratched off that list right away is the Cleveland Browns — despite the fact that some would love to see No. 3 make his way to Northeast Ohio.

There will be arguments out there that Wilson gives the Browns a better chance to win than Baker Mayfield does right now, and that’s hard to argue against. While 2021 hasn’t been the best season for Seattle, Wilson is an impressive 102-53-1 in his career and has been to two Super Bowls.

His talent is not the reason, but there are two other key points as to why Wilson to Cleveland won’t happen.

Wilson won’t want the Cleveland Browns

One reason Russell Wilson won’t be headed to Cleveland is because of Russell Wilson. The veteran quarterback currently has a no-trade clause in his contract and there are only a few teams he’s reportedly interested in waiving that clause for.

Reports have said there are only three teams he would waive this clause for and that would be the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Denver Broncos.

It’s been no secret New York is his top choice but the Browns don’t even come in as option B or C.

Cleveland Browns won’t want Wilson

Even if the Browns were on the list for Wilson, it’s also highly unlikely they would pull the trigger. Wilson has had a great career but he’s already 33-years of age and it’s not as if he will come cheap.

Much like when the Los Angeles Rams landed Matthew Stafford last season, the winner of the Russell Wilson sweepstakes would likely need to surrender multiple first-round picks. We can argue all we want that Wilson is worth that, but Cleveland’s front office isn’t paying it.

General manager Andrew Berry is as analytical as they come and his approach to team-building has never been about mortgaging the future to win now.

With all that being said, look for Cleveland to stay the course with Baker Mayfield in 2022 and try to continue to build the roster around him. That’s their play, not going after Wilson.