The Browns have no reason to sit on their hands at the trade deadline.
A 4-2 start through six weeks has changed the conversation in Cleveland, and it has put the team in position to think like a buyer. Before the 2026 NFL season began, nobody expected the Browns to be here, but now the schedule has opened a door they should be ready to walk through.
The path ahead looks manageable. Cleveland has the easiest strength of schedule, and it also gets an entire month without traveling.
On the schedule are matchups with the 1-5 Tennessee Titans, 2-4 New Orleans Saints, 2-4 Houston Texans, and 2-4 Atlanta Falcons. From weeks 10-14, the Browns will play one home game, go on a bye week, and then return to three straight home games.
That kind of setup is why this season stands out as a chance to make a push. A couple of trades could help the Browns squeeze more wins out of a favorable stretch.
The offense is part of the reason that feels possible. Since the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson in 2022, things have often gone sideways because he either has not been healthy, has not played well, or both.
This year, though, it feels like the Browns are finally getting the version of Watson they hoped for when they made that move. Adding more offensive help could give that success a better chance to hold up over the second half of the year.
The biggest need appears to be up front. Cleveland could use help on the offensive line, and the recent injury to Grant Delpit makes secondary depth worth considering too.
The Browns have plenty of draft capital to work with. In the 2027 NFL Draft, they currently hold 11 picks, including two first-rounders, three fourth-round picks, and a number of late-round selections that could be moved if the right deal comes along.
Andrew Berry has already shown he’s willing to hunt for value. The Browns general manager has found success buying low on players with upside, including in the wide receiver room with Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy.
That approach could apply again if Cleveland wants to target an offensive lineman who hasn’t fit with his current team and might just need a fresh start. A late-round pick could be enough to get something done.
And if the Browns decide they want to swing bigger, there’s even a name that could come into play: Sam LaPorta from Detroit, who has had some poor contract negotiations with the Lions in the past few weeks.
If Cleveland is going to make moves, this is the year to do it. The wins are already there, the schedule is working in their favor, and the route to the playoffs looks far cleaner than it has in seasons past. Don’t be surprised if the Browns start dealing picks before the deadline.
In Other News...
Browns Winning Streak Could Force Todd Monken Into A Brutal Decision
The Browns have found enough ways to win that a 4-2 start has kept them right in the thick of things, but it has not solved the bigger offensive questions hanging over the team. Cleveland has been fighting through issues in both the run game and the passing game, and while Todd Monken has praised the groups fight, he has also been clear that the offense still has room to grow.
That leaves the quarterback conversation getting harder by the week. Deshaun Watson has given Cleveland strong fourth-quarter play, but the early-game inconsistency is still part of the equation, and the idea of turning to backup Shedeur Sanders keeps hovering over the situation. If the Browns keep winning, Monken may be forced to weigh whether changing quarterbacks is worth the risk of disrupting a streak that has already bought the team some breathing room. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Offense Is Creating A Harold Fannin Jr. Debate
Harold Fannin Jr. was one of the Browns most productive pass catchers in 2025, leading Cleveland in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns and quickly establishing himself as a central part of the offense. Through the first six games of 2026, though, his role has looked a little different. The Browns have added more weapons around him, and the passing game has been more dispersed, which has naturally led to a slowdown in his yards per catch and target volume.
Deshaun Watson and Todd Monken have both framed that shift as a matter of matchups and game situations rather than a sign of concern, with the offense spreading the ball around as opponents try to take away different options. Fannin has kept the focus on helping the Browns win, even if the individual numbers are quieter than they were a year ago, and that makes his place in the offense a little more intriguing as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Still Have One Clear Trade Deadline Need Up Front
The Browns have tried to patch together the front with offseason additions like Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, and the results have been better in spots, but the offensive line still looks like the clearest place where help is needed before the trade deadline. Pass protection and run blocking have both lagged in the numbers, and the issues in the ground game have been especially hard to ignore for a team that wants more balance on offense.
A proven interior lineman would give Cleveland something it has not consistently had this season, and the trade market could offer a few interesting names if the Browns decide to act. Quenton Nelson, Landon Dickerson and Ben Bredeson are among the possibilities being floated, and each would fit the profile of a move aimed at stabilizing the middle of the line rather than chasing a more cosmetic fix. [Read more 🡒]