3 Cleveland Browns upcoming trades that will have you talking
By John Suchan
The Cleveland Browns have been busy trading for players this offseason and there are still a few more trades likely to take place before the season kickoff
The Cleveland Browns have already had a healthy offseason of trades. The biggest involved quarterback Deshaun Watson back in March when the Houston Texans agreed to trade him to the Browns for virtually the farm. He was guaranteed $230 million and Cleveland traded away their first-round picks over the next three seasons — and a few other later-round picks in the coming rounds over the next few years as well.
They also went out and traded for an elite wide receiver from the Dallas Cowboys in Amari Cooper. These two trades are big and will give the team new and talented players to help continue to strengthen all parts of the team.
But the Browns still have a lame-duck quarterback out there on the team in Baker Mayfield plus they have a storage unit of excellent running backs that are sitting on the roster at the moment.
Many believe it’s just a matter of time before Mayfield is traded. The hang-up is his nearly $19 million contract. Most NFL teams don’t want to pay that and might be holding onto the idea that Mayfield is released.
We’ll present one trade involving Mayfield here first and then we’ll look at a couple of other trade options for the team as they prepare for next season. While some of these trades are more likely than others don’t be surprised when the team does make a trade or two.
Cleveland Browns potential trade No. 3: Baker Mayfield to Seattle
In this trade, the Browns trade their previous franchise quarterback to Seattle. The Seahawks are still searching for that new franchise quarterback. Drew Lock was brought in recently from the Denver Broncos, when Russell Wilson was shipped to Denver.
Pete Caroll, the Seahawks coach likes to create splashes with his teams, so bringing Mayfield in to compete for the starting job could be ideal for both Seattle and the quarterback.
The Browns would likely have to pay on some of that guaranteed $19 million owed to Mayfield. But this deal makes sense for both squads and gives Mayfield a place to go that is far from Cleveland.
Cleveland would also trade their rising star running back D’Ernest Johnson here. The Browns and Johnson both just agreed on a new one-year contract. But the running back room is too full at the moment. With Nick Chubb leading the way and other veteran Kareem Hunt following up as the other regular, it doesn’t give Johnson much of an opportunity.
Cleveland also just drafted Jerome Ford from Cincinnati and has second-year player Demetric Felton returning. This trade would give Johnson a new start and he’d likely become the Seahawks’ primary running back. Rashaad Penny is in that role now for Seattle, but Johnson would certainly give him a run for his money.
Both teams in this trade scenario would exchange a few draft picks as well. While some might believe that Mayfield could garnish a future first-round pick a second or third-round pick is much more likely.