The Browns have put themselves in position to think big at the trade deadline, and the defensive line looks like the obvious place to shop.
Cleveland is 3-1 through four weeks of the 2026 NFL regular season and sitting atop the AFC North. That kind of start gives the front office room to be aggressive, especially with Mason Graham injured and Jared Verse still working to find his footing. The rest of the line also carries some long-term uncertainty, which is why adding another proven body up front makes sense.
Two names stand out as possible targets: Kayvon Thibodeaux and Daron Payne.
Thibodeaux’s career in New York has not followed the trajectory the Giants expected when they took him fifth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He is not a bad player, but he has not matched the burst he showed in 2023, when he posted a career-high 11.5 sacks. Over the last three seasons, he has produced just eight sacks total.
The Giants also added another young piece to the pass rush last offseason by selecting Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick. With the team still chasing wins and leaning younger on defense, moving Thibodeaux could bring back draft capital while giving New York something for a player who will likely be looking for a new contract elsewhere after the season.
For Cleveland, the price is the real question. The Browns got a fifth- and sixth-round pick when they traded Za'Darius Smith in 2024, while the Steelers recently landed a sixth- and second-round pick for defensive back Joey Porter Jr.
Using that market as a guide, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick - two assets the Browns currently have plenty of - could be enough to get Thibodeaux. If needed, Cleveland might have to sweeten the deal with Sam Williams or Derek Barnett.
Payne is the more established prize. The former 13th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft has been one of the league’s most dependable defensive tackles for years, even if he has done it without a ton of flash. Across the last nine seasons, he has piled up 440 tackles, 37 sacks, 65 tackles for loss, 84 quarterback hits and seven forced fumbles.
Washington’s 1-3 start and place at the bottom of the NFC East could push it toward a reset at the deadline and beyond. Payne is an unrestricted free agent in 2027, and that makes him a logical candidate to move if the Commanders want to retool while also getting something back before the situation gets more complicated.
For the Browns, Payne would fit cleanly next to second-year defensive tackle Mason Graham. He could also step into the top role if Graham’s injury lingers longer than expected. Durability is another selling point: Payne has missed only three games over the last nine years.
The market may be messy, but the Steelers’ return for Porter Jr. suggests the kind of package it could take. A 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick might be enough to get Washington to listen.
If Cleveland wants to make a real push before the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline, these are the kinds of swings that could reshape the defensive line.
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