The Opening Drive 11/4: The List of Cleveland Browns Who Should Be Dealt
Doesn't mean they will move but the Browns should be pushing for some shake up.
That day has finally come!
Election Day 2025, that is. Make sure to get out and vote if there are elections where you live — but also to that eagerly anticipated NFL trade deadline. Teams have until 4:00 p.m. today to get those trades called in to bolster rosters for the immediate playoff push or make moves that impact future drafts.
The NFL recently extended the trade deadline by one week (the 2023 deadline was Oct. 31). If you recall this was Andrew Berry’s and Cleveland’s rule suggestion that helped push this process into place. During the 2024 offseason, team owners voted to push back the deadline to follow Week 9 games to accommodate a 17-game regular season.
“We want to retroactively correct the fact that the trade deadline never moved when the season expanded to 17 games,” Berry told the media. “If, at some point in the future, the regular season expands to 18 games, we wanted to be proactive in terms of the positioning for the trade deadline.”
Basically they had these goals in mind:
Flexibility to keep playoff window as competitive as possible.
Maintain competitive portion of regular season longer.
Rectify that trade deadline never moved with addition of 17th game.
Show the ability to be proactive if the regular season expands to 18 games.
MLB and NBA’s trade deadlines were at 65% of games, and the NHL was at 78% and as it stood, the NFL was at 45%.
It has been an unusual bye week, with numerous rumors circulating around the Browns organization and no general manager availability, which is a departure from what we have become accustomed to.
The NFL movement has been slow this morning as only Cincinnati’s Logan Wilson was moved to the Cowboys for a 7th round pick but there should be more movement throughout the day.
The Browns organization granted the wish of safety Damontae Kazee to be released given his small role with the team. Upon that release he forfeited upward of $200,000 in guarantees. That is the only roster news we have as of now.
Below you’ll find the latest in the BFB catalog for supporters to dig into. Click the link to become a supporter if you haven’t already, and enjoy all the latest from Browns Film Breakdown.
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The following are players I would be most interested in moving today for a number of reasons. The Browns are not desperate to gain more draft capital as they already lead the league in the upcoming draft but if the season is going where we think it is, and some of these names are either performing as they are, or going to be done contractually soon, it just makes sense to me.
Shelby Harris
Having a strong age 34 season, Harris has six pressures, 11 tackles, and nine stop tackles on the season in 201 snaps. He can play either shade or 3-tech and would bolster the depth of just about in iDL in the league. The contract ends after 2025 outside of some void years and won’t be cost prohibitive for either side.
Wyatt Teller
He noted yesterday he would like to retire a Cleveland Brown, but Teller’s decline in play quality and advancing age, paired with his contract, makes sense to try and solve. The Browns need to jumpstart the rebuild of this offensive line, primarily around youth, and Teller is the best fit to land elsewhere. He will carry a hefty cap number upon leaving, but that is the direction it is heading regardless of his situation in Cleveland. He would be a rental so the return would be light, but it makes sense for the Browns to get an early look at long-term replacements.
Ethan Pocic
Another veteran whose deal expires after this season but the Browns should want an extended look at Luke Wypler and the long-term fit and Pocic’s play has not been that strong to demand a retention here. Another rental, sure, but even a pick swap would be a worthwhile move.
David Njoku
The Browns and Njoku are coming up on a decade together. It would be tough to see him leave, but the contract expires at the end of the season as is and his decline in movement skills, production, and blocking do not bode well for an extended relationship here where Njoku is likely hoping to land. If they can get some value, they should take it.
Jerome Ford
The veteran running back is on the last year of his rookie deal and has both gun run, pass, and blocking experience. He doesn’t fill any of those situations exceptionally but he is a solid running back for places with a growing health issue. He would help several contenders around the league. This would also provide all those snaps Ford is eating to rookie Dylan Sampson and they need it to justify the selection, in my opinion.
Rayshawn Jenkins
Veteran defensive back who can play at multiple levels and has been quite productive in his short time in Cleveland. He could help plenty of rosters on the back end of their defensive back situations. If you can gain even a small swap, it would be a wise choice.
Maliek Collins
This is the only deal that runs into 2026. Collins is playing at an exceptional level, career year so far, with 20 pressures, four sacks, and 10 total tackles in 323 snaps. He would most certainly help almost any contending iDL in the league and his cost is not unbearable for any side involved. There are a few guarantees still set to hit but there is nothing about his game that says it won’t be stellar the rest of the year and in 2026. He could actually attract a real asset.
I actually expect the Browns to be quiet at this deadline, but those are the names they should be having conversations around right now. We will see if there is any action throughout the day and we will keep you posted.
Browns Film Breakdown will return soon with some content you deserve.
