The Cleveland Browns already made the kind of offseason move that sent shockwaves through the league when they dealt Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. The return drew mixed reaction, but Jared Verse at least gave Browns fans a reason to soften the blow.
Eight games later, that optimism has cooled. Verse has brought energy and value to the locker room, but the sack total still hasn’t followed. The production has been fine in spots, just not the kind of impact you want from a player expected to help replace Garrett’s presence off the edge.
That’s why FanSided’s Zachary Rotman sees the Browns as a natural fit for Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Tuli Tuipulotu before Friday evening’s NFL trade deadline. With the Chargers sitting at 0-7, Tuipulotu has become one of the more intriguing names to watch, especially with no extension in place.
“The Chargers should be trying to extend him. Is that actually going to happen, though? A deal has not been agreed to, and with Tuipulotu set to hit free agency this offseason, time is running out for one to get done,” wrote Rotman.
Tuipulotu has been one of the few bright spots for a Chargers team that has stumbled badly, and his situation is getting tighter by the day. Jim Harbaugh and company have said they want to keep their core pieces, but Tuipulotu is still scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
At 24, he’s still on the rise, and the numbers back up the buzz. In seven games this season, Tuipulotu has 30 tackles, including 16 solo stops, along with three tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, three sacks, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one interception.
That’s a step up from Verse’s line through eight games: 18 tackles, four tackles for loss and six quarterback hits. Verse has said he isn’t bothered by the lack of sacks, but that’s still the part of the job that matters most for an edge rusher.
Tuipulotu also brings something the Browns need badly on the other side of the ball. He has been one of the league’s best edge defenders against the run, with 17 run stops, third among 111 eligible edge rushers according to Pro Football Focus. He has also played the second-most run-defense snaps at 172.
That matters for a Browns defense that ranks 24th against the run, allowing 126.9 rushing yards per game. Tuipulotu would address a real weakness, not just add another name to the rotation.
Cleveland doesn’t need to chase every shiny deadline move just because the season has started well. The bigger picture still points to 2027 and beyond, and that’s where Tuipulotu fits. He’s the kind of player who could become a long-term piece on defense, even if the Browns have to pay a steep price and work out an extension to get him.
Verse may still sort things out and grow into the player the Browns hoped for. But right now, there’s room for another edge rusher who can actually change games. Tuipulotu would give them exactly that.
In Other News...
Browns Keep Sending A Troubling Message About Their Offensive Line
The Browns are still shuffling the back end of their offensive line, signing guard Austin Blaske and tackle Xavier Truss to the practice squad while moving on from tackle Andrew Coker and guard Vershon Lee. It is the latest sign that Cleveland is still searching for the right mix of bodies behind its starters as the team tries to stabilize a group that has been under constant pressure.
With the Browns leading the league in sacks allowed, every tweak to the depth chart carries a little more weight than usual. The front office and coaching staff are clearly still evaluating what works and what does not, and these moves suggest the line remains very much a work in progress as Cleveland looks for better answers up front. [Read more 🡒]
Shedeur Sanders Just Added Real Heat To Browns Saints
Shedeur Sanders has already given the Browns-Saints matchup a little extra edge before a snap is played. The Cleveland quarterbacks recent comments drew a response from New Orleans defensive end Carl Granderson, who made it clear the Saints will have added motivation when the teams meet in Week 9, with Sanders expected to start for Cleveland.
It is the kind of setup that fits neatly into the old bulletin-board material conversation, where a few words can linger long enough to shape the mood around a game. For the Browns, it adds another layer to a matchup that was already going to draw attention because of Sanders first start, and now it comes with a little more bite on the other sideline. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Leave Week 9 Eyeing A Saints Trade Target
At 5-3 after eight weeks, the Browns have put themselves in position to think beyond just surviving the season and start considering how to sharpen the roster before the November 10 trade deadline. Depth remains a concern, and with the offense still looking for ways to add more reliable options, Cleveland has at least been mentioned in the conversation around a few possible targets who could help right away.
Among the names floating around are Saints tight end Juwan Johnson and edge rusher Carl Granderson, along with Noah Fant, as the Browns weigh what kind of upgrade makes the most sense. Cleveland could certainly use help at tight end, where a blocking option like Charlie Kolar would fit one need, but the bigger appeal may be a playmaking presence who can give the offense another layer as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]