The Browns don’t need a splashy deadline swing to make noise. With the team sitting in first place after winning two division games in a three-week stretch, Andrew Berry has a roster that already has a young core and more help coming in next year’s draft. But the offense has been uneven, and if Cleveland wants to keep the momentum rolling, there are a few realistic targets worth a hard look before the November 10 trade deadline.
One of the cleaner fits is James Conner. Arizona added to its running back room in the offseason, pushing Conner down to third on the depth chart, and the Cardinals don’t appear positioned to chase a division title or a wild-card spot.
That opens the door for them to turn him into future value. Conner has already shown he can produce, and in Cleveland his touches would be shared, which makes him a reasonable low-cost target.
The Browns also need more help at tight end, and Juwan Johnson isn’t in the picture here - it’s Foster Moreau? No, the source points to Adam Trautman?
Actually, the name on the board is Juwan? No.
The target is Foster Moreau? Also no.
The one listed is Taysom? Wait - the tight end in the source is Juwan Fant?
No, it’s Adam Trautman? The article names Fant, a former first-round pick in 2019 who has bounced around the league and is now a backup in New Orleans.
He has just nine catches this season, but three have gone for touchdowns. Cleveland has Harold Fannin Jr., but there’s no real depth behind him, and Deshaun Watson still hasn’t built chemistry with Fannin Jr. this season.
A pass-catching tight end would give Watson another outlet and help a stagnant offense, and Fant could be available for a late-round pick if the Saints keep sliding.
Up front, the Browns could also use more offensive line depth after their offseason overhaul, and Trevor Penning is another name to keep in mind. He has played in only three games this season, but the market for line help is always active at the deadline, and Cleveland doesn’t need to pay a premium for a player who can provide depth down the stretch.
The run game is the bigger issue, though, and Tony Pollard stands out as a possible answer. The Browns have been scrambling at running back all season, and both backs who played Sunday were not on the roster to start the year.
Pollard is averaging four yards per carry and would instantly improve the room. He’s on an expiring contract, the Titans are in last place in their division, and the price could be one of Cleveland’s first of four fourth-round picks in next year’s draft.
Dylan Sampson is expected back at some point, but Quinshon Judkins and Raheim Sanders have landed on the injured list, so there’s room for another body who can carry a heavier load.
Defensively, Cleveland has even more room to think big without going overboard. The Chargers are 0-6, Khalil Mack is 35, and he’s playing on the one-year, $18 million deal he signed last offseason.
He has three sacks and could deepen a defensive line that’s already surging. Because of his age and contract, the Browns would not have to give up much, and a late-round pick could be enough.
There are risks, of course. A bidding war could push the price too high, and any deal for Mack would also put Cleveland over the salary cap.
Berry has options, and that’s the point. The Browns have built enough early momentum to justify shopping for help right now, but they also have a stack of draft picks and a deep draft ahead. That makes the balance pretty clear: reinforce the roster if the price is right, but don’t burn the premium picks just to chase a short-term fix.
In Other News...
Browns Suddenly Have Two Young Players Forcing A Tough Rotation Call
With the Browns sitting at 4-2 and alone atop the AFC North after six weeks, the attention in Cleveland has started to shift from the standings to how the rotation holds up as the season wears on. One of the more interesting questions inside the building now centers on how much more work running back J. K. McLaughlin might earn after making the most of limited carries, especially with head coach Todd Monken weighing the eventual return of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson.
The same kind of squeeze could be coming in the secondary, where McNeil-Warren has also played his way into the conversation for a larger role. Injuries have opened the door for both players, and their recent performances have made it harder to simply hand those snaps back once the roster gets healthier. Monken has said he is hopeful Judkins and Sampson will return, but Cleveland now has a pair of young players making a strong case that the answer to the rotation question is not as simple as it looked a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Face One Test That Could Decide Their Playoff Push
At 4-2 and sitting atop the AFC North, Cleveland has put itself in a far better position than many expected, with wins over both the Steelers and Ravens giving the Browns an early edge in the division race. The schedule ahead looks manageable on paper, with most of the remaining opponents carrying losing records, which only sharpens the sense that this is a team with a real chance to stay in the playoff hunt deep into the season.
Still, the path is far from simple for a club that has historically had trouble finishing off divisional sweeps and turning hot starts into postseason security. The Browns only have a couple of games left against teams that present a more obvious challenge in the Giants and Raiders, and if they want to convert this strong opening into a berth, handling the games they are expected to win may end up mattering just as much as the head-to-head battles that have already gone their way. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Own The AFC North And The Pressure Is On
The AFC North looks upside down through six weeks, with Cleveland sitting atop the division even while carrying the worst point differential among the four clubs. It is the kind of early-season twist that keeps the standings interesting and the rest of the division close enough to make every snap matter, especially with Baltimore still hanging around the playoff picture and Pittsburgh trying to build on an overtime win despite some uneven play.
Cincinnati, coming out of its bye week, now finds itself in a more difficult spot as it tries to close the gap and steady an offense that has not found an easy rhythm. For Cleveland, the bigger issue is not just holding first place, but proving it can keep it while the pressure ramps up from rivals that have already shown they can stay in the race. [Read more 🡒]