I've been on record as saying the Cleveland Browns must resist the urge to engage in any grandiose trade talks as the trade deadline fast approaches.
While that remains true for the vast majority of trade candidates this time of year who are older and don't necessarily have much tread left on the tires, if Cleveland is able to acquire a player who might help this year and beyond, the calculus changes.
Sorry Saquon Barkley (soon-to-be 30) or Jonathan Taylor (soon-to-be 28) fans. It just doesn't make sense to chase a player at the game's most replaceable position with a high price tag and plenty of miles on their legs for this iteration of the Browns. Ditto for older defenders making the rounds like Khalil Mack (35) and Josh Sweat (29).
That's where the caveat comes into play. As identified by Bleacher Report's Alex Kay, there are a few names circulating in trade discussions that would make sense for the Browns.
While we would caution against a hefty investment of high-quality picks, especially in light of Andrew Berry's recent draft heater, a cost-controlled move at a position of need could make a lot of sense.
The Browns should only be interested in trade targets who can help beyond 2026
As far as younger players who may be on the move, an aggressive effort to acquire them early could earn the Browns a discount on their eventual contract. The free agent waters are treacherous, and overpays are par for the course.
Adding a player via trade at a reasonable cost at this stage could prove prudent.
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – Los Angeles Chargers
The Cleveland Browns have the sixth-most sacks in the NFL with 20. Despite that, only four of them have come from their EDGE rushers (Isaiah McGuire has 3.0, Sam Williams has 1.0, and Jared Verse is stuck with a donut-hole). If the Browns want to make their defense even more lethal, they could inject a player like Tuipulotu into the mix.
Tuipulotu is coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2025 and has 2.0 sacks on the year for the Los Angeles Chargers. He's also added two tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits. For his career, he has 28.0 sacks, 41 tackles for loss, and 61 quarterback hits. This is a player who has figured out how to get to the quarterback.
Pairing Tuipulotu with Verse would give Cleveland one of the most feared duos in the league, provided Verse gets back to his Los Angeles Rams ways. Tuipulotu is still just 24 years old, too, so the long-term potential is significant. If the Browns are able to add him at a reasonable cost, the defense instantly levels up.
Cornerback Riq Woolen – Philadelphia Eagles
Browns cornerback Denzel Ward has been, frankly, outstanding this season. Tyson Campbell has held his own on the other side, in the enviable spot opposite an elite cornerback. Myles Harden, the Browns' third cornerback, on the other hand, has struggled a bit this season. The Browns' reserves haven't been much better.
Riq Woolen was a big part of the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl run last year. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he brings a truly unique build to the position. He would allow defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg to get even more creative with his defensive deployment while also adding insurance against injury for either of the Browns' top two CBs.
Woolen is still 27, so if he takes to the scheme in his audition, he could extend his stay in Cleveland. What's more, adding him early would allow the Browns an exclusive negotiating window ahead of free agency to get a deal done before things get out of control.
In Philadelphia, he is on a sinking ship; he might be available for cheap.
EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson – Washington Commanders
Chaisson makes sense for many of the reasons Tuipulotu does, though he may have a lower ceiling. He just turned 27 years old and is coming off back-to-back solid seasons. In 2024 with the Las Vegas Raiders, he had 5.0 sacks. He moved to New England with the Patriots and notched 7.5. Through six games this season, he has 2.5.
For his career, Chaisson has 20.0 sacks, 31 tackles for loss, and 56 quarterback hits. At a minimum, he would instantly rank among the Browns' best secondary EDGE rushers. A continuing rotation of McGuire, Williams, Derek Barnett, and Chaisson would create a headache for offensive coordinators as this season wears on.
Just like the other two, Chaisson carries with him the potential of being a long-term contributor if things work out. He seems to be a late bloomer who is coming into his own now. The Browns would be wise to cash in before it's too late.
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