Browns have been advised to steer clear of these 3 trade targets by the deadline.
These three players must not be targets of Browns GM Andrew Berry at the NFL trade deadline if he doesn’t want to waste his time.
As the Oct.
1 deadline approaches, the Cleveland Browns cannot afford to wait. NFL trade deadline is December 31. The Browns are currently holding down the final spot in the AFC playoff race, which is as competitive as it can get with five 3-3 clubs circling around them.
The league’s general manager Andrew Berry won’t be short on trade options because several teams are looking to sell.
He must also consider any potential while doing so. The last thing Cleveland needs is to overpay or take out a mortgage on the future for a player who won’t increase the team’s chances of making the playoffs.
The Browns’ 9 point, 5 win total is currently being favored by DraftKings Sportsbook to be Over (-140), which would likely put them in a playoff spot if they reach that mark.
Nevertheless, there is a bad trade target for every good one.
Prior to the October trade deadline, the Browns should avoid acquiring the following three players. 31 day deadline.
- The Dalvin Cook.
This year, teams in need of running backs frequently target Dalvin Cook in trades. The seasoned rusher made the switch to the redesigned New York Jets during the offseason, but since Breece Hall has shown he is more than capable of handling lead back responsibilities, the veteran rusher’s role has all but disappeared.
Experts have linked Cook to the Browns as a result of Nick Chubb’s potential availability and Chubb’s season-long injury.
Even though I can see the appeal just in Cook’s name, he has changed considerably over the years.
There is no excuse for Cook to only average a career-low 2.8 yards per carry, despite the fact that the Jets’ offense hasn’t been particularly effective since Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles.
His personal lows for both yards after catch per reception (7.6) and yards after contact per rush (1.5) make his decline even more obvious.
Cook as he is right now would not make much of a difference in Cleveland’s backfield.
Although they didn’t produce as much as Chubb in Week 6’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, Kareem Hunt and Jerome Ford appeared assured and should be able to hold down the fort for the remainder of the season.
2.
The speaker is Jerry Jeudy.
It is understandable that Browns supporters want to see the wide receiver room addressed in the coming weeks given that Amari Cooper is the only productive wide receiver we have.
Numerous wide receivers have been mentioned by football experts as targets for Cleveland, with Jerry Jeudy of the Denver Broncos receiving the most attention.
Following a fruitful collegiate career at Alabama, Jeudy was selected by the Broncos with the 15th overall pick in 2021. The native of Deerfield Beach, Florida, was expected to be a No. With 856 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season, he appeared well on his way to establishing himself as the No. 1 WR one day.
Unfortunately, Jeudy hasn’t changed all that much since then.
Last season, he amassed 972 yards and six touchdowns, but in 2023, he isn’t even close to that pace.
He’s only on pace for a 68-755-0 stat line in 17 games after accumulating 222 yards on 20 receptions this season.
The 24-year-old wideout’s attitude and work ethic have recently been called into question, and the last thing the Browns need is an unmotivated underperformer.
A change in scenery could help Jeudy turn things around, but is he the kind of player we want in Cleveland’s locker room?
The Browns ought to try to stay away from Jeudy and the issues he brings because there are other, better wideout options with more qualification.
3.
Squon Barkley.
With a 1-5 record after six games, the New York Giants are another team in a losing streak and are expected to be sold off.
Saquon Barkley is one of many players the Giants could unload in the upcoming days to help restock the cupboards.
For six seasons, Barkley, a former second-overall pick, has seen his abilities wasted in New York.
He has occasionally struggled with his health, but 1,650 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games last season show that he is one of the best running backs in the league when he is at his best.
I don’t support the Browns trading for Barkley, despite the fact that the Penn State product would theoretically fill Chubb’s spot nicely.
First of all, Barkley’s services won’t be inexpensive.
The Giants most likely desire a similar return given that the Indianapolis Colts were seeking an “early-round draft pick” in a potential Jonathan Taylor trade.
It is likely that the Browns would have to forfeit their second- or third-round picks in 2024. Normally, I’d be okay with trading those picks, but given that Cleveland is anticipated to be $6.3 million over the 2024 salary cap, per Spotrac, players on rookie deals are required for the upcoming season and beyond.
The fact that Barkley doesn’t want to be traded has also been made abundantly clear.
Although some players have changed their minds after being traded in the past, Browns supporters don’t need a player on the team who isn’t happy to be there. Barkley might cause more harm than good if he lacks motivation.
There is a good chance that other teams will engage in a bidding war for the gifted rusher if he becomes available.
