The NFL Trade Deadline has come and gone, and the Cleveland Browns only made one move, but it wasn’t the move that most would consider a “splash” move. Despite calling around for any form of offensive
help, the Browns weren’t able to acquire or trade away any pieces during this deadline. It’s likely that the team will wait until the offseason to fully address their roster holes. Is it the best strategy? Not necessarily, it would have been nice for the team to get a head start on it.
Instead they will wait until the offseason.
There are a few reasons for that, but that doesn’t make it less frustrating for fans.
Neither Buyers nor Sellers
Despite reports of the Browns being “buyers” at the deadline, the team did the opposite, to a small level. From what we’ve heard, the team did explore wide receiver help, but a deal never materialized. When it comes to finding trades, it’s a complicated process. It all comes down to finding the right player for the right price. The name that was rumored amongst Browns circle was New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson. The Jets had a fire sale:
- DT Quinnen Williams was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 2nd Rnd Pick, 2027 1st Rnd Pick and DT Mazi Smith
- CB Sauce Gardner was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2026 & 2027 1st Round Pick and WR AD Mitchell
Since the Browns weren’t buyers, people questioned why the team didn’t sell players to gain draft capital. Again, similar to being buyers, the team has to find teams willing to give up assets for certain players. Defensive end Myles Garrett was never on the trade block, and the team didn’t plan on dealing him. Tight end David Njoku, right guard Wyatt Teller, left guard Joel Bitonio, and running back Jerome Ford were also rumored to be on the trade block, but those players ended up staying.
The team, seemingly, has a hope for at least some of those players moving forward.
It was a quiet trade deadline for the Cleveland Browns, but it appears the team is likely going to wait until the offseason to make major moves. It might not be what the fans want to hear because “activity” is always valued in the NFL, but the Browns are hanging tight until the offseason.
