Cleveland Browns: 3 last-minute options at the NFL trade deadline

1. Duron Harmon, S, Las Vegas Raiders

The division you play in can have a huge impact on how daunting a losing record feels. For the Cleveland Browns, 3-5 doesn’t feel too bad since the two teams ahead of them are the 5-3 Baltimore Ravens and 4-4 Cincinnati Bengals.

Cleveland is also 2-1 in their division and the only loss was to Baltimore by three, and they had a late field goal blocked — as well as a touchdown overturned by a weak call. Despite the loss, they proved they can hang with them and the next time they face off, it will be at home and Deshaun Watson will start.

As for the Las Vegas Raiders, they’re coming off a shutout loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 8 and are now 2-5. They’re also in the AFC West where they’re 0-3 with losses to all three opponents. It was already a tough ask for them to contend with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, but they’re three games behind K.C. and they’re doing little to give fans hope.

With that being said, they should be sellers at the deadline. And while Johnathan Abram and Clelin Ferrell are the names most tossed around, the Browns should ask about the availability of Duron Harmon.

A journeyman safety, the 31-year-old Harmon spent seven seasons with the New England Patriots before playing for Detroit, Atlanta, and now Las Vegas in the past three seasons. He’s far from a household name but he’s the 11th highest-ranked safety according to Pro Football Focus and 10th in pass coverage.

For his career, he has 343 tackles, 42 pass defenses, 23 interceptions, and recorded the first pick-six of his career this season for the Raiders.

Cleveland has three capable safeties in Grant Delpit, John Johnson III, and Ronnie Harrison but all excel playing in the box. Adding Harmon would give them a player capable of patrolling the back end of the defense.

Las Vegas might also be willing to part with him given their current record and the fact that Harmon is a free agent in 2023. That would appeal to the Browns as well since they’ve been trying to get younger on defense. A little veteran leadership wouldn’t hurt and they also wouldn’t be tied to him long-term.

Sounds like a win for both sides.

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