The Browns may not be expected to make a splash at the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline, but they are at least kicking the tires.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Cleveland is being viewed as a team that could shop for two specific upgrades: a rotational edge rusher and a blocking tight end. Breer said the Browns are “actually positioned now as buyers, which is pretty fascinating,” and added, “Cleveland has looked around at adding a rotational edge rusher and perhaps a blocking tight end, which would free them up to move Harold Fannin Jr. around even more.”
That’s not a full-blown shopping spree, but it does suggest the front office is open to improving the roster if the right deal comes along. And while Breer didn’t name any targets, a few possible fits have already surfaced.
On the edge, Cleveland has been linked to several recognizable names. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler listed the Browns as a fit for EDGE Khalil Mack, EDGE Jermaine Johnson and EDGE YaYa Diaby.
Johnson, 27, has also been the subject of trade buzz. He’s on a $13 million deal and sits in the middle of his prime, which is exactly the kind of profile that tends to draw interest.
Over the last two seasons, he has six sacks and has regularly landed in the top half of PFF grades at his position.
If Cleveland can make the money work, the draft capital is there to keep adding to the line.
Other edge options mentioned in the rumor mill include Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants and veteran Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers. Both would likely come with the feel of a one-year rental, though either could potentially work toward an extension by season’s end.
Even if the Browns go cheaper and target a depth piece instead of a bigger name, the logic still holds. The source material points to Jared Verse’s play this season as a reason Cleveland could use more help up front, and adding another body there would still make sense.
At tight end, the market is thinner. There just haven’t been many blocking tight ends tied to trade chatter this season, and the teams with the best ones are not eager to let them go.
San Francisco has George Kittle. Minnesota has Josh Oliver.
One name that does stand out is John Bates of the Washington Commanders. Washington is 2-4-1 and third in the NFC East, which makes Bates a plausible trade candidate if the team wants to collect draft capital and reset for the offseason.
Bates, 29, isn’t the kind of tight end who grabs headlines, but he has been steady. In six seasons, he has 77 catches for 722 yards and three touchdowns, and he’s been praised for his work as a blocker in both the run game and pass protection.
His rookie year in 2021 was especially notable: he posted the highest PFF run-blocking grade ever for a first-year tight end and finished first in run-blocking that season. He’s also signed to a three-year deal, which would give the Browns something more than a short-term rental.
A move like that would also open the door for Harold Fannin Jr. to slide into a more receiver-heavy role full-time.
For now, Cleveland appears willing to survey the market as the deadline approaches, especially if it can beat the New Orleans Saints this weekend and stay near the top of the division. Whether the Browns actually commit to a deal is still the real question.
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