Cleveland Browns Trade Flurry Wrap-Up

New GM Dorsey Makes His Mark on Struggling Team

The start of the NFL trade season has kicked off and the Cleveland Browns are surprising everyone. While new GM John Dorsey is seen as more of a “football guy” than the departed Sashi Brown, Brown’s accumulation of assets allowed Dorsey to wheel and deal pretty freely without sacrificing crucial draft spots.

Within just two days, the Browns got their new starting quarterback, a starting wide receiver, and most likely a starting defensive back.

Here is a quick breakdown of the assets moved, and how that impacts the Browns for the future.

Credits: Gridiron Experts

Received: WR Jarvis Landry
Lost: 2018 fourth-rounder (No. 123) and a 2019 seventh-rounder

Landry getting traded is not a surprise at all. Everyone around the NFL has expected this for some time. Miami was well over the salary cap, and a $15mil+ hit for franchising your WR isn’t going to help.

Enter the Browns.

They have tons of cap room, so the money wasn’t a problem. The 4th round pick they gave up was one they received for trading punter Andy Lee to the Panthers. This is not a lot to give up to get Josh Gordon a dependable running mate to take the defensive focus away from him. The Browns were plagued by drops last year, and hopefully Landry will help in that area.

Recieved: QB Tyrod Taylor
Lost: First pick in the 3rd round (65th Overall)

This is another departure that surprised nobody. The Bills organization was so apathetic towards Taylor that it pulled him in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman in week 11 last year. The rookie went on to throw 5 interceptions in the first half. Taylor should be an excellent bridge quarterback to take the starting job and look respectable while whatever rookie QB the Browns take in April gets used to the NFL. He most likely isn't going to be a long-term answer, but his game is similar to that of Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson, so drafting either of those two would be an easy transition when they are ready.

Received: DB Damarious Randall
Lost: QB DeShone Kizer and swapped picks in the 4th and 5th rounds

While I think Kizer was bad last year, I also think the coaching staff absolutely killed him. I'm happy to see him go to a place where he can learn from one of the best and get a chance to be a real NFL QB in the future. Green Bay is giving up their most talented, if mis-positioned defensive back. Randall played cornerback for the Packers and displayed some amazing ball skills, but had trouble turning his head around and contesting close catches. I suspect the Browns will move him to free safety, where he played in college. This will allow him to play more to his ball-hawking strengths, and also allow Jabril Peppers to move to strong safety, which fits him better as well.

Received: 2019 3rd round pick (Patriots)
Lost: DT Danny Shelton, 2018 5th round pick

This is the only trade of the bunch that really confused me. Danny Shelton is a former 1st round pick, and while he wasn't a world-beater, he consistently did his job as a run-stopper and occupied double teams. Getting a 3rd round pick from the Patriots is almost like getting a 4th rounder, since they are deep in the playoffs every year. Delaying that to next year while also giving up a solid rotational defensive lineman doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If they gave up one or the other I could see it, but this seems like a large overpay. What this means for the team, though, is more of Larry Ogunjobi, who flashed amazing talent last year in limited opportunities. Cleveland also has Trevon Coley and Caleb Brantley for depth, but I still see them adding a tackle in free agency or the draft.

Overall, the Browns definitely improved heading into free agency, even generating some buzz about others joining once the open period starts at 4:00PM EST today.

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_{Author: @jaymesbawned
Editor: @bacchist}

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