3 defensive tackles the Browns can target ahead of NFL Trade Deadline

No. 2: Maliek Collins, Houston Texans

This is an interesting trade scenario for the Browns should the Texans decide to trade Maliek Collins ahead of Tuesday’s Trade Deadline due to the fact he has two void years in 2024 and 2025. We all know how much Berry loves void years on deals.

Collins signed a two-year, $17 million contract in the offseason with a $6 million signing bonus and another $8.5 million in guaranteed money. So this trade, should it come to fruition, would be a win financially for the Browns.

Through six games this season, Collins has 12 combined tackles (two for a loss), three quarterback hits, and a pass deflection. In his six-and-a-half years in the league, he has compiled 19 or more combined tackles every year except one. He also has 17 sacks, 31 tackles for loss, and 51 quarterback hits.

Cleveland is in dire need of someone who can stuff the run, while also getting to the quarterback, especially when Myles Garrett is getting double and triple-teamed on nearly every single play.

Collins missed practice on Wednesday with a chest injury, so that would obviously need to be monitored from now until Tuesday.

Clearly, these two teams aren’t shy about contacting one another in trade talks, as the Browns pulled the trigger on the Deshaun Watson trade back in March. There are other members of the Texans roster that could also be targeted for Cleveland, but that’s a different discussion for a different day.