Browns trade rumors: Cleveland could deal $31,940,426 stars before deadline under one condition

Modified Nov 03, 2024 01:46 GMT

Za'Darius Smith and Elijah Moore may be the latest victims of the Browns' rebuild

The Cleveland Browns are on the brink of collapse. They are among the league's worst teams at 2-6 thanks to the poor play of quarterback Deshaun Watson, and that was before they traded wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills.

And now speculation has surfaced that another wideout and one-half of their sack machine duo will join him out of Northern Ohio.

CBS's Jonathan Jones wrote on Saturday that wide receiver Elijah Moore (who is currently playing on the final year of his $8,940,246 contract, per Spotrac) and defensive end Za'Darius Smith (who signed a two-year $23-million extension during the offseason) could be on their way out if the Browns lose Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

He also notes that multiple teams have inquired about the availability of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, but the front office is very much unwilling to trade him.

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Potential trade destinations for Browns stars Za'Darius Smith, Elijah Moore

Moore, according to Sports Illustrated, should head to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to mend their wideout woes with Chris Godwin out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle and Mike Evans needing to recuperate from a hurting hamstring.

Meanwhile, the latter is being linked to two NFC teams, according to Sporting News. The Detroit Lions desperately need a top pass rusher after losing Aidan Hutchinson to a leg fracture (which Gilberto Manzano concurs with), while the San Francisco 49ers have their own injury issues with the defensive line.

Browns also urged to move on from CB Greg Newsome II

Speaking of Manzano, he also suggests that the Minnesota Vikings offer the Browns a fifth-rounder for cornerback Greg Newsome II, who has long been part of a once-monstrous secondary led by three-time Pro Bowler Denzel Ward.

He posits that it will help defensive coordinator Brian Flores mend a major issue with what has otherwise been one of the league's better defenses:

"Newsome can play on the inside and outside. He would help improve Minnesota’s pass defense, which would allow Flores to continue being an aggressive play-caller."

The trade deadline is on November 5 at 4 PM ET.