As we’ve all seen by now, multiple people have been interviewed for Cleveland’s vacant head coaching position over the past two weeks. Though those coaches might be the most realistic options, an odd storm is brewing over in Green Bay that could open the door for another head coaching candidate for the Browns.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur appears to be in somewhat of a contract dispute with Green Bay’s brass, centered around compensation and little details in his current deal.
It’s been starting to get
more and more publicity lately as Adam Schefter recently spoke on it as well:
“I think the bigger deal is, can they figure out a contract of fair value to keep him there? I think that’s what this is about, them trying to negotiate a contract, seeing what they could come up with. If they get a deal done, it’s a non-talking point and his future is secure there. If they can’t figure out a contract that works for both sides, well then, you have to ask yourself, are they willing to let him go into the last year of his deal, which he would be, or what do you do about that?
Very rarely do teams want coaches going into the last year of their deal. Which, I believe the priority will be to re-sign to an extension this offseason.”
As he said, it would be incredibly weird for the Packers to actually fire LaFleur right now. So how would he be an option for Cleveland if he’s not available on the open market?
Trade for him.
Though it hasn’t happened much (8 times in league history), it’s still a very legitimate option for the Browns if they see him as an immediate fit. The last instance of an NFL head coach being traded was in 2023 when the Denver Broncos traded a 1st and 2nd-round pick to New Orleans for Sean Payton.
Long story short, Cleveland has the option to offer one of their 2026 1st-rounders to Green Bay if they wanted to initiate a trade for LaFleur. It’s incredibly plausible to see him as the most “win now” option out there if his contract dispute gets even more ugly.
Would you want Matt LaFleur in Cleveland? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.
