Andrew Berry has never been shy about working the phones at the trade deadline, and this year feels different for the Browns. Cleveland isn’t looking to sell off pieces and think about later. At 5-3, with a first-year head coach in Todd Monken and the second-youngest roster in football, the Browns have a real chance to push for now.
They also have the ammo to do it. Cleveland owns 11 picks in the 2027 draft, including seven Day 3 selections, and Over the Cap lists the Browns with $12 million in salary cap space, the 10th-most in the league. With the Nov. 10 deadline approaching, Berry has enough draft capital and flexibility to make a move if he wants one.
The schedule only adds to the case. The Browns are headed into a softer stretch with games against the 2-5 New Orleans Saints on the road and the 2-5 Houston Texans at home.
After their Week 11 bye, they get three straight home games against the Raiders (4-4), Bengals (5-2) and Falcons (3-5). For a team in the AFC North mix, this is the kind of window that can make deadline aggression feel justified.
So what could Cleveland actually chase? The most obvious needs are defensive end, defensive tackle, tight end and cornerback, and there are 26 names worth keeping on the radar.
At the very top of the wish list are the long-shot dreams. Jonathan Taylor, Tui Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack, Nolan Smith Jr., Vita Vea, Moro Ojomo, Grover Stewart, Dallas Goedert and Alontea Taylor all fit in the “probably not happening” bucket.
Some are simply too expensive, some don’t make sense for Cleveland’s roster, and some would require Berry to spend real draft capital and cash in a way the Browns are unlikely to do. Taylor would be fun, but Cleveland should not be shipping premium picks for a running back when Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson are cost-controlled 2025 draft picks who should keep improving.
Vea would solve a run-defense problem in a hurry, but he may prefer a West Coast landing spot if Tampa Bay even moves him. Goedert is at least interesting because of Berry’s connection to Howie Roseman, though the fit next to Harold Fannin Jr. is questionable since Cleveland may need more blocking than that pairing would provide.
The more realistic splash tier is where things start to get interesting. Will McDonald IV, Yaya Diaby, Carl Granderson, Amik Robertson and Juwan Johnson all sit in that middle ground where Berry would still have to pay up, but not at the level of the true pipe dreams.
McDonald stands out because the Jets are 2-6 and could keep stockpiling draft capital, and he just showed up against Cleveland with three pressures, a sack and a fumble recovery. Robertson is another name to watch if the Browns want help at corner, especially with the room behind Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell still thin since training camp.
He has no guaranteed money left after this season and can play both outside and in the slot. Johnson is also worth monitoring when Cleveland visits New Orleans this week; he brings blocking ability and splits time between inline and slot work.
Then there’s the tier where the fit almost sells itself. K’Lavon Chaisson, Jermaine Johnson II, A’Shawn Robinson, Dalvin Tomlinson and Charlie Kolar all land there, and Robinson may be the cleanest match of the bunch.
He’s a veteran, should be affordable and brings real force against the run. Pro Football Focus has him second among 130 qualifying defensive tackles versus the rush with an 88.5 grade.
Kolar is another logical target, especially because he spent three years in Todd Monken’s offense with the Ravens and built his game as a blocking specialist. With the Chargers sitting at 0-7, there’s at least a path for Berry to make that kind of move now.
Finally, there’s the “less exciting but at least we did something” group: Dorance Armstrong Jr., Baron Browning, Riq Woolen, Noah Fant, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Shemar Stewart. Woolen is the most notable name there.
He brings size and speed, is on a one-year deal, has started opposite Quinyon Mitchell for the Eagles and doesn’t appear to be in Howie Roseman’s future plans. ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler said, “teams predict a Day 3 pick would be the most likely value.”
In Other News...
Browns Trade Deadline Debate Just Got More Urgent After New Concern
After the loss to the Steelers, Todd Monken kept the Browns message steady: patience, perspective and a reminder that the team has earned its 5-3 start. Even so, the conversation around Clevelands trade deadline plans has only gotten louder, because the issues that have trailed them into November are the kind that can shape a playoff push if they are not addressed soon.
The debate has centered on two obvious pressure points, the rushing offense and a defense that has shown some recent vulnerability. But the latest buzz suggests Cleveland may be leaning toward help on the defensive side first, with a run-stuffing tackle viewed by some as the cleaner fit than an offensive backfield addition. For a team trying to stay in the AFC mix, the next move could say plenty about how it sees itself. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Need One Low-Cost Move To Save Their Offense
The Browns loss in Pittsburgh left them in a tougher spot in the AFC North, and the bigger concern is still the same one that has followed this offense for weeks: protection. Cleveland has had trouble creating lanes in the run game and keeping Deshaun Watson upright, a combination that has made the unit harder to trust and easier for defenses to attack.
One possible fix would not require a splashy move, either. The idea of going after Colts tight end Kylen Ogletree makes sense because of his reputation as a blocker, and that kind of low-cost addition could help steady the edge of the offense while giving Cleveland more help where it needs it most. The Browns do not need another headline-grabber as much as they need a piece that makes the whole operation function a little better. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfield Just Added Another Twist To His Browns Split
Baker Mayfields latest win with Tampa Bay came with a strange footnote and a familiar Cleveland subplot. In a game against Kevin Stefanskis Falcons, the Buccaneers didnt complete a single pass but still rolled behind a franchise-record 324 rushing yards, while Atlanta never found much rhythm on offense. For Browns fans still tracking every turn in the Mayfield-Stefanski split, it was another reminder that the story has never really stopped following either man.
Mayfield also added a new wrinkle off the field, saying Stefanski never reached out after Cleveland traded him. That detail only sharpens the contrast between the two figures and helps explain why the breakup still lands differently with fans depending on which side they were on. Even now, with Mayfield winning elsewhere and Stefanski trying to build in Atlanta, the old divorce keeps producing fresh reactions. [Read more 🡒]