Insider reveals why Browns will be big sellers at trade deadline
Andrew Berry and the Cleveland Browns are looking at a 2-6 record heading into the final week before the trade deadline. On bye in Week 9, the Browns' record won't change, but the roster surely will.
They've already shipped off Greg Newsome II to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that shouldn't be the only move that Cleveland makes this season. There are numerous trade candidates, all of whom have realistic chances of being dealt.
For ESPN's Bill Barnwell, the Browns should be heavy sellers at the upcoming NFL trade deadline. Barnwell provided one main reason why Cleveland should be open to moving "anything that isn't nailed down."
Why Browns' Andrew Berry should be willing to sell almost anything at NFL deadline
Other than Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett, "Anyone else should and very well might be available for the Browns, who are realistically thinking about 2026 and 2027," Barnwell writes.
Some specific players Barnwell listed are David Njoku, Jerome Ford, Jerry Jeudy, Joel Bitonio, Teven Jenkins, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, and Shelby Harris.
The majority of the Browns' roster should be available in trade talks, in Barnwell's opinion. Other than looking to the future, Barnwell listed another reason why Berry should be open to nearly any trade.
"The Browns are also likely to be active in free agency this offseason," Barnwell writes, "which will limit their ability to rack up compensatory selections."
If the Browns wind up being active in free agency, then their outgoing players in free agency won't net them any compensatory picks. They would effectively be losing multiple players for nothing.
Bitonio, Teller, Njoku, Pocic, Harris, Ford, Cam Robinson, Jack Conklin, and many others are all set to hit the open market after 2025. If they sign with a new team in free agency, the Browns wouldn't gain anything if they are active themselves, which Barnwell believes they will be.
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Instead of letting these valuable players depart for nothing, trading them at the 2025 NFL deadline makes the most sense for the Browns. They could land extra draft capital, free up roster spots for younger players, and also save some money.
While players like Garrett and Ward aren't likely to be dealt, despite plenty of interest, the Browns should be open to moving nearly anyone else. As Barnwell points out, this is the time to move on from a lot of these veterans.
Both Berry and Kevin Stefanski have the backing of owner Jimmy Haslem. There's no real risk of either being fired, which would more easily allow for trades to be made, as a weaker short-term roster won't put their jobs in jeopardy.
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, November 4th, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Berry and the Browns will likely be busy in the build-up to the deadline, as there are plenty of moves that could be made by the deadline.
Cubs Favored To Replace Kyle Tucker With $182 Million Red Sox Superstar
The Chicago Cubs took a risk and acquired Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster trade last winter, but the superstar is now a free agent. It seems like he’s going to leave town in free agency, as he’s projected to sign for north of $400 million, so the Cubs will need to do their best to replace his production.
Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib recently suggested the Cubs could replace Tucker’s production by signing Boston Red Sox infielder Alex Bregman. Bregman was recently projected to sign a massive $182 million contract in free agency, according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden.
“The guess here is that the Cubs make a strong push for Alex Bregman. The Cubs identified Bregman as the piece last offseason that could transition them from being a good team into a great team,” Campbell wrote. “They weren’t wrong, but the problem was that the Cubs made a pursuit of Bregman a priority far too late in the offseason. The Boston Red Sox likely will make a strong push to bring Bregman back, but the Cubs being involved shouldn’t be that surprising.”
Bregman has been a solid fit for the Cubs for the last year, and they seemingly took a shot on him last free agency, but he opted to sign with the Red Sox.
This offseason, the Cubs need to prioritize landing an impact bat, whether it’s Tucker or a replacement. Bregman would fit that mold, especially considering the fact that he’s projected to sign for half the money.
It won’t be a cake walk for the Cubs to sign Bregman, but it’s certainly a possibility.
