Browns Insider Reveals Potential Trade Deadline Plans After Surprising 4-2 Start
· Yahoo Sports
Nobody expected the Cleveland Browns to be shopping for reinforcements in late October. Not after trading Myles Garrett. Not with a new head coach and a roster that appeared headed for another rebuilding year. Yet Cleveland is 4-2, leading the AFC North, and its trade deadline plans may have taken an unexpected turn.
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Longtime Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot believes Cleveland will be looking to add players before November 10th. She even has a particular veteran in mind.
Browns Trade Deadline Plans Could Bring a Familiar Name Into the Picture
During Tuesday’s Orange and Brown Talk podcast, Cabot was asked whether Cleveland might be buying or selling at the deadline.
Her answer wasn’t particularly complicated.
“Yes, I do think they will be buyers as they approach the trade deadline,” Cabot said. “I think they are more apt to be buyers than sellers.”
Six weeks ago, that would have sounded ridiculous.
The Browns had just moved on from Garrett, their best defensive player, and nobody was penciling them in for a division title. Now they’re ahead of Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati.
Cabot also mentioned Khalil Mack as a player Cleveland should consider pursuing.
The Los Angeles Chargers are winless through six games. Mack is 35 years old, and a rebuilding team might have little reason to hold onto an expensive veteran if another club offers reasonable compensation.
Cabot floated the possibility of acquiring him for a fifth-round pick.
That’s her suggested valuation; however, not a reported asking price from Los Angeles. There’s also no indication that the Browns and Chargers have discussed a deal.
Even so, Mack’s inclusion in the conversation makes Cleveland’s trade deadline plans worth following.
Cleveland’s Trade Deadline Plans Shouldn’t Ignore the Offense
There’s one problem with the idea of adding another pass rusher.
The Browns can barely score.
Through six games, Cleveland is averaging 17.7 points. That isn’t exactly an offense striking fear into opposing defensive coordinators.
The defense has done enough to keep the team competitive. Asking that unit to continue carrying such a heavy burden, especially as the schedule gets deeper into November and December, seems like a dangerous gamble.
So why not use those trade deadline plans to find another offensive weapon?
The offensive line could certainly benefit from additional depth. Injuries have also created questions in the backfield, leaving Cleveland with some uncomfortable decisions about how to support its running game.
Mack would be an exciting acquisition. Nobody would complain about another proven pass rusher joining the defense.
But would he fix the team’s biggest weakness?
Probably not.
Berry has to consider that before making any changes to his trade deadline plans. Cleveland doesn’t need to win the transaction headlines. It needs to find ways to score more points.
Andrew Berry Faces an Unusual Decision
The Garrett trade left Cleveland with additional draft capital, including the Rams’ 2027 first-round selection. That gives Berry options. It doesn’t mean he should start throwing picks around.
There’s a difference between surrendering a fifth-rounder for a veteran who can contribute immediately and giving away premium draft capital because the team unexpectedly won four games.
The Browns’ trade deadline plans should account for both possibilities: Cleveland might have a legitimate playoff opportunity, but it still has a roster that needs work.
Todd Monken deserves credit for getting this group to 4-2. Few expected that kind of start.
Still, six games aren’t enough to erase the questions surrounding the franchise. One injury, a couple of bad offensive performances, or a difficult stretch against division opponents could change the outlook quickly.
That’s the uncomfortable position Berry finds himself in.
Stick with the roster and risk wasting an opportunity? Or make a move and potentially sacrifice resources that the organization spent the offseason accumulating?
Those aren’t decisions Cleveland expected to face this soon.
Oct 18, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) rushes as Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) tackles during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn ImagesThe Last Word
Cabot’s comments have made the Browns’ trade deadline plans considerably more interesting. Cleveland entered the season looking like a team preparing for the future. Now there’s a legitimate reason to consider helping the present.
Mack would be a fascinating addition, particularly if the price were as reasonable as Cabot suggested. But the offense needs attention, and Berry shouldn’t overlook that simply because a recognizable defensive player might become available.
The Browns have already accomplished more than many expected through six games. Whether they’re legitimate contenders is another question entirely.
Their trade deadline plans won’t answer everything, but they’ll provide a pretty good indication of how seriously Cleveland’s front office is taking this unexpected opportunity.