The Browns are sitting in a strong spot at 3-1 and alone in first place in the AFC North, but that hasn’t erased the need for help on the defensive line. With Mason Graham injured, Jared Verse still working to find his footing, and the rest of the front carrying some long-term uncertainty, Cleveland has reason to shop for another difference-maker up front before the deadline.
Two names stand out as realistic targets: Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jonathan Allen Payne.
Thibodeaux has not fully become the player the Giants hoped for when they took him fifth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s had moments, including a career-best 11.5 sacks in 2023, but he has managed just eight sacks over the last three seasons combined. New York also added Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick last offseason, which makes the edge group even younger and gives the Giants a reason to think about moving Thibodeaux for draft capital and a mid-level contributor.
The Browns have some recent trade history that helps frame the cost. When Cleveland sent Za'Darius Smith away in 2024, it got back a fifth- and sixth-round pick.
More recently, the Steelers traded defensive back Joey Porter Jr. for a sixth- and second-round pick. Using that as a guide, a package of a 2027 third-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick could be enough to get Thibodeaux to Cleveland.
The Browns currently have three 2027 third-rounders, which gives them flexibility.
The catch is that New York’s edge depth is thin with Brian Burns out for the season. If Cleveland wants Thibodeaux badly enough, it may need to put together a more convincing offer or include Sam Williams or Derek Barnett to make the deal work.
Payne is the other name worth watching. Drafted 13th overall in 2018, he has built a steady case as one of the league’s most reliable defensive tackles.
Over the last nine seasons, he has piled up 440 tackles, 37 sacks, 65 tackles for a loss, 84 quarterback hits and seven forced fumbles. At 29, he’s still producing at a level that would give Cleveland an immediate boost inside.
Washington’s 1-3 start has put the Commanders in a position where changes could be coming as they look toward the deadline and the offseason. Payne is an unrestricted free agent in 2027, and the situation points toward a possible move if Washington decides to retool. For Cleveland, the fit is obvious: Payne could line up next to Mason Graham, or step into the top role if Graham’s injury turns out to be more serious than expected.
Durability is part of the appeal, too. Payne has missed only three games over the last nine years. And with Deshaun Watson’s contract relatively off the books, the Browns would have a clearer path to extending him this offseason if they wanted to make a long-term play.
The market for a player like Payne is harder to pin down, but based on the Joey Porter Jr. return, a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick could be enough to get Washington’s attention. If Cleveland wants to strengthen its front for a real postseason push, both of these names make sense as the deadline nears.
In Other News...
Nationals Rebuild Has Turned Ruthless And The Hard Part Is Next
Paul Tobonis first year steering the Nationals baseball operations has already taken on a clear shape: strip away the parts of the roster that were not helping, then start building a sturdier core around the players who can. During the 2026 season, Washington was willing to part with several first-round talents and other players who had been dragging down the clubs performance, a sign the front office is not interested in waiting around for sentiment to get in the way of progress.
The hard part is still ahead. Washington has improved the floor of the roster, but the next step is finding the kind of impact pieces that actually change a rebuilds trajectory, and that means adding a left-handed hitting first baseman, a top starter and a trusted closer. The Nationals have made clear they want more than a cleaner roster and a better process, but the final push toward real contention will depend on whether Toboni can keep turning subtraction into something much more valuable. [Read more 🡒]
Seaver King Is Giving Nationals Fans Real Hope For One Big Reason
Seaver Kings rise has become one of the more encouraging developments in the Nationals player pipeline, especially after the uneven 2025 season left plenty of questions about how quickly he might settle in. Instead of letting that setback define him, King showed a much better feel for the strike zone and a real step forward in impact at the plate while moving between Double-A and Triple-A, enough to put him squarely among the sports most closely watched prospects and put him in the conversation for a major league look next season.
The bat is what has changed the conversation around him, and it is easy to see why Nationals fans have latched onto it. King has spent most of his time at shortstop while also bouncing to second and third base, which gives Washington some needed flexibility, but his glove still needs to clean up before anyone can feel fully settled about his long-term fit. For now, though, the promise is obvious, and the organization suddenly has a young infielder whose upside feels much closer to the majors than it did a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Jack Sinclair May Be Exactly What The Nationals Bullpen Needed
Jack Sinclairs late-season arrival gave the Nationals something they had been searching for in the bullpen, even if the sample was small. After spending most of the year at Triple-A Rochester, the right-hander reached Washington in September 2025 and handled himself well in his first taste of the majors, settling into relief work and giving the club a look at a pitcher who could miss bats and limit damage.
The early returns were encouraging enough to make Sinclair a name worth tracking as the Nationals sort through their pitching depth. He drew positive remarks from manager Blake Butera and got into leverage spots during his first stint, the kind of usage that can tell a team a lot about whether a young arm is ready for a bigger role down the line. The question now is whether Washington can turn that brief debut into something more meaningful moving forward. [Read more 🡒]