The Browns Might Not Be Able To Sell Big

Looking at the Browns top trade candidates ahead of tomorrow's deadline and what trading them would do to the Browns cap situation.

(Photo - Cleveland Browns)

When the Browns traded Amari Cooper to Buffalo a few weeks ago, it felt more like a prelude to additional moves than a one-time thing. That impression wavered after an upset win against the Ravens last week, but a lifeless performance against the Los Angeles Chargers brought the Browns back to earth with a thud and it’s time to begin auctioning off assets in earnest.

Before we jump into the specifics, I want to remind everyone of two facts off the top. One, this is the most expensive roster by cash spending in the history of the NFL. The Browns are spending $337 million in cash this year on their roster. That means that there are plenty of expensive veterans on affordable contracts because the team was supposed to be competing for a divisional title and they had pushed all their chips into the middle of the table. Instead, they are 2-7. It’s one of the more remarkable failures of roster construction in NFL history. There might be reasons to bring back Andrew Berry and company for another try, but let’s all pause first and make note of how badly they missed the mark this year.

Second point: the Browns, while they are an older roster with several expiring contracts, have several young players currently in or just reaching their prime. Players such as Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Grant Delpit, David Njoku, and Wyatt Teller are all on extensions and have to be considered the building blocks that should be in place for multiple seasons. It would harm the Browns chances of quickly turning this roster around to trade any of these players, even for a haul of draft capital.

I have already written about the fallacy of the total rebuild or “tank.” The Browns do not need to tank this season or next season, despite the cap problems created by Deshaun Watson’s bloated contract. They need to keep their core players and do a better job of augmenting that core through the draft and free agency. There are a myriad of examples around the league of rebuilding on the fly and returning to a high level of performance after a bad season. Don’t believe anyone who tells you that the Browns have to “tear it down,” 

With all of that table-setting done, let’s look at the list of Browns players that could be on the move by 4pm Eastern on Tuesday November 5th. All contract info is from overthecap.com. All of the cap numbers have been prorated for the half-season, so numbers are approximate. One other contract note, most of these contracts have void years on them, so I have included a listing of next year’s dead cap charge to the Browns because they will retain those void year charges. I will also offer a trade compensation range but please remember, I am an idiot and the NFL is very hard to predict.

(Photo - Cleveland Browns)

DE ZaDarius Smith, 32 years old

Dead Cap with Trade: $2 million in 2024, $19.8 million in 2025 

Cap Savings: $600,000 in 2024, $5.4 million in 2025

By the time you’re reading this, this trade might already be done. Mike Florio reported during yesterday’s game that Smith is likely on his way to Detroit. The fit makes sense, and Smith will be a bargain for the acquiring team, as his salary this year is only $1.21 million this year and he is affordable in 2025 as well. He should fetch a good return as a result, but less than what the Browns landed from Cooper. The key to maximizing Smith’s return is if another team can get into the bidding because he is probably the most impactful pass rusher available and that could precipitate a bidding war which benefits the Browns. I think a 4th or 5th-round pick as trade compensation is a reasonable return.