Every NFL front office has to answer the same question as the trade deadline approaches. Some teams are clearly built to chase a title, while others know their focus belongs on the draft. The tricky spot belongs to the teams caught somewhere in between. The Browns entered the season looking like they were stuck in that middle ground, but one national analyst believes their 3-1 start has settled the debate.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report believes the Browns will be buyers ahead of the November 10 deadline.
“The Cleveland Browns are off to a strong start under first-year head coach Todd Monken, who led his team to three consecutive wins after a 34-10 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Overall, the Browns should look to add veterans who can help fuel a surprise run at a division title or wild-card playoff berth. General manager Andrew Berry could add a veteran pass-rusher to fill a void while standout second-year defensive tackle Mason Graham is out with MCL and ankle sprains,” Moton wrote.
That stance would have been hard to imagine in August. The Browns traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and additional draft picks, a move that pointed toward the future, and most projections had them winning 5 or 6 games.
Now they sit alone atop the AFC North, and the math has changed. Moton noted that outside of Deshaun Watson, Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit, Cleveland’s starting lineup is largely young, which makes a veteran addition even more valuable for the stretch run.
The interior of the defensive line is the obvious place to start. Mason Graham leads the team with 4 sacks, and Mike Hall Jr. is also nursing an ankle injury. With Kalia Davis on injured reserve, the Browns are dangerously thin at defensive tackle.
Adding a veteran who can collapse the pocket would also help Verse. Opponents have sent extra blockers his way all season, and he is still looking for his first sack in Cleveland. Another interior threat would make those double teams much harder to justify.
Buying does not have to mean sacrificing the future, either. The extra picks from the Garrett trade give Berry flexibility, and a pass rusher on an expiring contract would likely cost a mid-round selection rather than a premium asset.
Berry could also find a way to do both. Moton pointed to Jerry Jeudy as a prime trade candidate after he fell out of the starting rotation, and moving a veteran receiver who is barely being targeted could help offset the cost of adding help elsewhere.
There is risk in pushing chips in too early. The Browns have been outscored on the season and have won their 3 games by a combined 10 points, so a couple of losses could quickly change the outlook.
Still, opportunities like this do not come around often in Cleveland. The Browns have several games left before the deadline, starting with the trip to face the New York Jets and a home date with the Baltimore Ravens. How they handle that stretch could decide whether Berry adds a piece for a playoff push or simply stays the course.
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