These trade proposals could be on the table for the Cleveland Browns if they want to create some wiggle room with cap space this offseason
It was a Cleveland Browns season to forget. While there were some good moments and some individual success, the team as a whole regressed. The record speaks for itself as they finished 7-10 after an 8-9 finish the year before. In their first season under head coach Kevin Stefanski, they went 11-5 and made the playoffs.
There has been a lot written about the talent on the team with players like Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett, and Amari Cooper all having impressive resumes. But that hasn’t led to consistent winning. The Browns have invested a boatload of funds in Watson as that is a huge topic amongst fans. They also have players like Garrett and Cooper that they are paying big bucks as well. Cleveland got Chubb for a reasonable amount in his last contract and he becomes a free agent in 2025 by the way.
With no first-round picks in the next two seasons and some massive contracts, the front office is going to need to rock the boat again and make some bold moves. Those could include a few of these trade propositions we discuss next.
Cleveland Browns No. 3 trade: Myles Garrett to the Dallas Cowboys
The Browns currently are in the red at negative $9 million as far as cap space going into this offseason. There have been a variety of ideas thrown out there to try and give Cleveland some extra funds so as to go out and build up the team in free agency.
One popular idea has the team trying to redo the Deshaun Watson contract where he will be due $35 million next season. Such a move would kick the can down the road but wouldn’t limit how much Watson makes.
What Watson decides to do will have some impact on this offseason, but there are other options as well and that includes considering the trading of defensive end Myles Garrett.
Why on Earth would the Browns consider such a trade considering he’s their best defender? That’s the answer because he’s one of the biggest assets for Cleveland. If Garrett were traded, the Browns would likely be able to recover a first-round NFL Draft pick — or maybe even two.
Cleveland would need to designate Garrett a post-June 1 trade (he could still be dealt before then, they just wouldn’t get the cap relief until after June 1). If they did, they would take an $11.9 million hit in dead cap money but save $17.25 million in cap space and help get the team back in positive cap space numbers and seek other free agents that could replace Garrett.
The former No. 1 draft pick has been with the Browns for six seasons and while he’s helped this team out, they’re still a sub-500 club. With that being said the value he gives his current team in any type of trade is maxed out right now. It won’t get any better after this season. Garrett is in his prime and the window will close soon.
A similar talent to Garrett is Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers. Mack has been in the league three more years than Garrett. The former University at Buffalo star was traded in 2018 from the Oakland Raiders after four seasons to the Chicago Bears.
The Raiders received 2019 and 2020 first-round picks and third and sixth-round picks. More recently, in 2022 Mack was traded to the Chargers for a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick. You can see how Mack’s value depleted quickly so that’s why if Cleveland were to make a deal involving Garrett, this time now would be the best.
So, who out there in the NFL would most likely trade for Garrett? While most teams would, the Dallas Cowboys would be an interesting match. Add in the fact that Garrett played his college ball at Texas A&M, and this would seem like a trade worth exploring. Let’s take a look at the details.
The Browns need a better group of safeties in their secondary and Jayron Kearse would help make that group better, especially if current safeties like John Johnson are traded or released this offseason. Dallas could be looking for an edge rusher too, so this seems like a good decision by both teams.
Also, Kearse is a free agent in 2024 and is only due $5.5 million. He’s had two strong seasons as a Cowboy as he’s recorded 178 total tackles, eight quarterback hits, and three sacks. He’s also had three fumble returns, 15 pass deflections, and three interceptions.
This trade would give the Cowboys an explosive edge rusher in his prime and ready to help them finally reach a Super Bowl again after a serious drought. Jerry Jones, the outspoken Dallas owner would certainly want to add a player like Garrett.
While the trade would certainly be a hit to the Browns’ defense, Garrett has struggled in the public relations department, and it might do him some good to go to an organization where the brand of the Cowboys is always bigger than the player.
The likelihood of a blockbuster Garrett trade this offseason seems unlikely but if the Browns were to want to get back into the upcoming NFL Draft conversation and look at getting on the positive end of having some cap space, this might be the best time to try and get the most for the player.
Cleveland Browns trade No. 2: Jedrick Wills to the Chicago Bears
Jedrick Wills, the former Alabama star was selected by the Browns at No. 10 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He primarily played at right tackle when he was in college and made the switch to the left tackle position when he was drafted by Cleveland.
That was a hot topic back then as some questioned if he could be successful in this role. While he’s had his share of good moments, there have been far too many times, especially this season where Wills has made mistakes and played with a lack of effort.
He’ll be entering his fourth season and while this potential trade option isn’t the most serious yet, it could become one if the Browns find a player in free agency or in the draft that they could replace Wills with. The Browns have to take about $2.8 million in dead cap money, but they would create about $3.3 million in cap savings.
Left tackles are always in high demand in the NFL and Cleveland could potentially get back some good value in a trade if they did something with Wills. Similar left tackles in their prime, like veterans Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers and Duane Brown have been traded for 2nd and 3rd-round picks in the past so getting that back with Wills could be likely.
The Chicago Bears are looking for help along their offensive line and if they were to make a trade with Cleveland, they would have plenty of cap money to do it as they have north of $100 million. Wills would be relatively inexpensive to them now. Wills becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2025 and by then, the Bears could evaluate his worth.
While the Bears may spend more on an experienced lineman in free agency, it wouldn’t surprise me if, come draft time, the Browns dangle Wills trade out there. Many teams have a need to improve their offensive lines, but because the Bears have so many options going into the draft this year, as they have the No. 1 pick and a ton of cap space, this type of deal could be made.
Cleveland Browns trade No. 1: John Johnson to the Philadelphia Eagles
John Johnson’s time in Cleveland has been rough, to say the least. He was supposed to be the splash free agency addition back in 2021 as I and many others wrote about back during that offseason. He was coming over from the Los Angeles Rams organization and after the Browns had made it to the playoffs the previous season, many thought this move would help solidify their secondary.
That wasn’t the case, even from game one of that 2021 campaign. As you may recall the Browns opened the season against the Kansas City Chiefs out at rambunctious Arrowhead Stadium. Cleveland built a lead in that game and looked to be in control.
However, the Chiefs like they often do, made a great comeback. Part of that comeback was made possible when Johnson was out of position to defend Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs got right back into the game with the explosive touchdown.
Similar plays have occurred for Johnson as well throughout his time in Cleveland. This past season in Week 2 when it looked like the Browns were coasting for the win against the New Jets, Johnson again was out of position and cost the Browns a touchdown — and eventually the win.
Despite these glaring mistakes, the veteran safety has had a hard time taking accountability for his actions and has tried to deflect the problems with his play on the miscommunications by the other players and the coaching decisions.
Johnson is due a base salary of $8.75 million this season. However, if the Browns were to trade Johnson as a post-June 1 designation, then they’d only take a $3.75 million hit in dead cap money and gain $9.75 in cap space.
The Eagles are one of the best teams in the NFL right now and despite not having many weaknesses they could look to add a few players in their secondary. One of their current safeties is Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and he could look to move elsewhere in free agency this offseason. Moving Johnson over to Philly could be an attractive proposition for the Eagles.
Cleveland could then look to the free agency market for a few mid-level guys or pick up a rookie or two in the upcoming draft.
While a move on Garrett and Wills could happen, those chances are minimal at this point — but the JJ3 trade surely seems likely. Whatever they decide, the Browns need to create some opportunities to improve the roster and might have to think outside the box.
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