As NFL teams inch closer to cutdown day, the Browns may have a few spots on the roster that are too thin to ignore. Cleveland has already been working the margins in free agency, but if the available options dry up, a trade could become the cleaner path to shore up the depth chart before the focus shifts to Week 1 of the 2026 NFL regular season.
Three positions jump out as the most obvious places for help.
Tight end is one of them. Harold Fannin Jr. gives Cleveland a strong young foundation, but the depth behind him is shaky.
Blake Whiteheart is a career journeyman, and Carsen Ryan is a late-round rookie. That combination leaves the Browns vulnerable if they want someone capable of handling meaningful snaps.
The trade market may not be packed with ready-made tight ends, but GM Andrew Berry is likely to at least make some calls.
Defensive end is another area that stands out. Berry has been chasing edge help since training camp opened, and the addition of Derek Barnett was meant to help cover for the loss of Alex Wright.
Even so, Cleveland could still be active if a defensive end becomes available via trade. Any potential option at that spot could end up drawing interest from the Browns.
Cornerback rounds out the list. Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell give Cleveland a solid top pair, and the Browns appear confident that Myles Harden can handle the slot.
After that, though, the room gets murky fast. If Berry can’t find outside help, DC Mike Rutenberg may need to lean heavily on three-safety looks to compensate for the lack of cornerback depth.
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