Dawgs By Nature
Over the last two years, the Cleveland Browns roster has been remade. A very good 2025 NFL draft class was followed by what has been graded as the best class in the 2026 draft. The Browns have also seen long-standing veterans, like TE David Njoku, OL Wyatt Teller, and (likely) OL Joel Bitonio, depart.
The three biggest moves have involved trades, including this week’s deal of DE Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. While the return in the Garrett trade is not finalized due to an interesting clause, DE Jared Verse and picks were added to the Browns.
Last year, Cleveland GM Andrew Berry also traded away the chance to draft WR/CB Travis Hunter for a bevy of picks and also traded former first-round pick CB Greg Newsome II.
As noted on social media, including ESPN Cleveland, looking at what the Browns gave up and got in return in those three deals is an interesting way to evaluate Berry’s overall trades and remaking of Cleveland’s roster:
Traded Away
Acquired in Trades
If we set aside players picked later in the draft (Tuten, Sampson, Lane), the Browns acquired six starters, a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick in exchange for three starters, including the best defensive player in the last decade or so.
Newsome is no longer with the Jaguars, and Hunter is reportedly being limited to playing cornerback primarily while sprinkling in offensive snaps. Cleveland comes out ahead, pretty significantly so far, when combining the two trades with Jacksonville.
The Garrett trade will come down to how much Verse can grow as the primary pass rusher, and what the Browns do with the three draft picks, especially in finding a Franchise QB.
What jumps out to you when you see these 3 trades stacked together? Big picture, how do you feel about these moves for Cleveland’s future and ultimate goal of putting a winning team on the field?
Share your thoughts on the trades in our comment section below
