With the Cleveland Browns getting off to a slow 2-5 start, Andrew Berry may start trying to acquire more picks. These 3 players could be moved soon.
Many fans of the Cleveland Browns started this season out cautiously optimistic. The roster seemed to have some talent on it, but with a backup quarterback for the first 11 games of the season, it was never going to be easy.
The NFL did everything possible to help the Browns when it came to their schedule as their first six games were very winnable opportunities based on a lack of talent and injuries at the time of the game. But now through seven weeks and a 2-5 record, it’s almost a lost cause of hanging on for Deshaun Watson.
Not saying I don’t want to see him play a few games to knock the rust off, but the hopes of getting in as a wild card are all but gone. Truthfully, this team would have just gotten smoked anyway. With giving up so many picks to acquire Watson, here are three trades the Browns should consider before the deadline to get some draft equity back.
3 Browns who should be traded before the deadline
No. 3 – Grant Delpit
I hate to give up on a guy a year too early, but Grant Delpit has continued to be a huge disappointment. He seems to always be in the middle of the miscommunications on defense, and it seems like he has forgotten how to tackle.
While the value of Delpit won’t be high, it’s still likely something from a team that is in desperate need of some depth. Remember, Delpit is on a rookie-friendly deal that has him under contract through the 2023 season.
There is no way you’ll get an early-round pick that was spent on him, but even a fifth or sixth-round pick would be more useful than the production the defense is getting from him now. My fear is leaving him on the field for the rest of the 2022 season would completely erase his value. A team now may be willing to take a chance on a change of scenery making a big difference for the former college star.
No. 2 – Kareem Hunt
One trade that will pain me but needs to happen this year is Kareem Hunt. At age 27 he has a lot of life ahead of him, and the Cleveland Browns are just too loaded at the position to truly utilize him. I would love to see him get a shot playing with Deshaun Watson, but with only this year left on his contract, there is still some value from a team in desperate need of a running back.
The biggest target would have been the San Francisco 49ers who recently traded for Christian McCaffrey, but there is still a playoff contender who could use some depth. The Los Angeles Rams or Buffalo Bills would both likely have some interest in Hunt.
You’re likely only talking about a fourth-or-fifth-round pick in return, but again, with what Andrew Berry gave up attaining Watson, these picks could all go a long way. The Browns aren’t likely to be able to get back into round one in 2023, but with a large number of picks, they would have the ammunition to jump up in a round to get a steal.
I’m not saying to dish Hunt because he isn’t a good player, he runs hard and is a great receiving option on third down. The Browns just have too much depth at the position and a guy like Jerome Ford or D’Ernest Johnson easily picks up his production. A team with the desire to sign Hunt long-term could be willing to give up slightly more as well.
Fans won’t like to hear this, but the NFL is a business, and this is a business move that makes sense.
No. 1 – Jack Conklin
The top target for the Cleveland Browns to move on from before the trade deadline is Jack Conklin. Again, Conklin is not a bad player and has really played well this season coming off a nasty kneecap injury. But there is no way the Browns can retain him after this season. With his contract up at the end of 2022, it makes a lot of sense to send him to a contender.
One thing to keep in mind, Conklin has a nasty contract so even dealing him for a mid-round pick in 2024 would be a big win. Conklin is eligible to become a free agent in 2023, but he has two void years in his contract with a $9 million hit in cap throughout the two-year period. My guess is no team is willing to take all of that on, but even if you could get rid of some of that hit, it would be a huge win.
Conklin is certainly in no position to lose his starting position, but James Hudson has come a long way over the last year and a half. Last year he looked nowhere near ready to be a starting NFL tackle, but in limited snaps this year he is much improved.
With the season all but a lost cause at this point, 2022 would be a great transition year for him to get used to being a full-time starter and prepare for meaningful snaps in 2023. The NFL typically doesn’t start the rebuild mid-season like you’ll see in the NBA constantly, but don’t be shocked to hear these three players’ names in the trade talks this week.
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