The Cleveland Browns have been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL so far this season. They got off to one of the best starts in franchise history and found their way into first place in the AFC North.
The Los Angeles Chargers have been even more surprising for entirely different reasons. They are the only winless team in the NFL, despite having one of the most highly regarded quarterbacks in the league.
That is why insider Benjamin Solak of ESPN is floating a blockbuster Browns-Chargers trade that would send Justin Herbert to Cleveland.
“Benjamin Solak lists the 3 teams that should try and trade for Justin Herbert: Vikings, Jets, the Cleveland Browns. Should the Browns explore a Herbert trade?” ESPN Cleveland posted.
.@BenjaminSolak lists the 3 teams that should try and trade for Justin Herbert:
– Vikings
– Jets
– The Cleveland Browns 👀👀👀Should the Browns explore a Herbert trade? pic.twitter.com/zpMT9W4yx9
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) November 3, 2026
The fact that this is even being discussed approaching the 2026 trade deadline is a sign of how far Herbert and the Chargers have fallen. Last year, Los Angeles won 11 games for a second straight season and were a wild-card playoff team under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Now, with injuries again ravaging their offense and players failing to produce with new coordinator Mike McDaniel, the Chargers may be looking for a franchise reset. They would need a substantial trade package to even consider moving on from Herbert, but the Browns may be well-positioned to satisfy that.
Cleveland has two first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, and two second-round picks in 2028. However, the Browns may be hesitant to go down this road again after giving up three first-round picks to acquire Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans and getting almost nothing in return until this season.
Armed with a complete no-trade clause, it is unknown if Herbert would even want to come to Cleveland. He has a high-profile celebrity fiancée (singer Madison Beer), and the contract extension he signed with L.A. runs through the 2029 NFL season.
The Jets may be in a much better position to make a trade like this, holding three first-round picks in the 2027 draft that are all currently in the top 10. So, the competition for Herbert would be formidable if the Chargers were willing to put him on the market in the first place.
The salary cap ramifications of an in-season trade would be devastating to Los Angeles, so this is a move that would have a much better chance of taking place during the offseason, if at all.
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