flag
back Atrás
Browns Trade Deadline Update Sheds Light into Front Office's Decision To Stay Quiet

The Cleveland Browns made zero moves at the trade deadline, opting to head into the back half of the season with the same squad that led them to a 5-4 record through the first nine weeks.

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry takes in the second day of training camp, July 30, 2026, in Berea, Ohio. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The 2026 NFL Trade Deadline came and went.

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler released an update on where the Browns' headspace was at during the trade deadline. According to his report, the Browns were feeling out the market, but nothing ended up coming together by the time 4:00 p.m. EST rolled around.

The team was in the market for an extra edge rusher to pair with a squad that has been up-and-down this season, while also exploring the need for a blocking tight end.

Obviously, the Browns have one of the league's most exciting youngsters in Harold Fannin Jr., but he is better known for his pass-catching abilities and athleticism, not his ability to block. Landing a blocking tight end would have given him more flexibility and less strain on that end.

On the defensive side, Jared Verse takes most of the attention; however, he has struggled to begin the year. Adding another body across from him could have opened up more opportunities for him to get in the backfield.

"The Browns looked for an extra edge rusher and a blocking tight end and put out several feelers, but nothing came together," Fowler's report read. "This was the rare cycle in which Cleveland did not make a move."

In recent years, the Browns' decisions to trade away wide receiver Amari Cooper in 2024 and trade for edge rusher Za'Darius Smith in 2023 stand out as team-altering moves. Cooper obviously went on to decline over the next few years due to age, but he could still have served a purpose in Cleveland, while Smith would end up becoming a nice complement to the Browns' pass rush.

Even if the Browns had shipped a few players out as they had in the past, with all four quarterbacks and wideout Jerry Jeudy being rumored to be on the block, it would have made things interesting.

But if the front office were really interested in shaking things up, they would have.

As Fowler mentioned, feelers being sent out shows that they were at least exploring different options and trade targets, but nothing coming to fruition means that either their own or others' values weren't met.

Instead, the Browns are just going to keep the locker room intact and see if the 5-4 record through the first nine weeks was a fluke or not.

They did end up adding two players to the practice squad, increasing a bit of the depth, but neither is an eye-popping move. They signed tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden and punter Wes Pahl, releasing tight end John FitzPatrick and defensive tackle Eric Johnson II in the process.

Neither are expected to play a big impact on the 53-man roster, but if injuries arise they may get a chance to play on Sundays.

Looking to put a Week 9 loss to the New Orleans Saints behind them, the Browns will look to chase the top spot in the AFC North this weekend when they meet up against the Houston Texans.

The two sides will play at 1:00 p.m. EST from Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.

You may like

The Rams Made Their Choice at NFL Trade Deadline, and It Wasn't Matthew Stafford

si.com hace 1 hora

Week 10 Fantasy Football Must-Start Kickers: Chris Boswell Leads Group of AFC Kickers in Favorabl...

si.com hace 1 hora

Texans QB C.J. Stroud wins AFC Player of the Week following 5 TD perfomance vs. Chargers

aol.com hace 1 hora

Jesse Minter Shares Expectations For Jacoby Brissett As Ravens Stop-Gap Starter

si.com hace 1 hora

Why the Panthers Stayed Quiet at the Trade Deadline and What It Means for 2027

si.com hace 2 horas

Fantasy Football Ramifications of Rams Hoping for Puka Nacua to Return Later in the Season

si.com hace 1 hora

Vikings Verdict: Judging Kirk Cousins Trade, Rookie Concerns & Other Overreactions as Week 10 Begins

si.com hace 25 minutos

Ex-Steelers HC Mike Tomlin Leaves Door Open for Coaching Return

si.com hace 1 hora