Cleveland faced challenges at the offensive tackle position this year after losing former All-Pro Jack Conklin to a season-ending injury. They turned to rookie Dawand Jones, forcing him into a starting role right away. Surprisingly, Jones excelled in pass protection but had difficulties as a run blocker, an area where many expected him to shine immediately. Despite this, keeping him on the field makes sense, given his progression, which is likely to continue throughout the season. Jedrick Wills, the left tackle, raises a bit more concern. As a former first-round pick, he hasn’t played up to expectations yet. While he has a few good games every season, his struggle with consistency makes him an occasional liability on offense. With the trade deadline approaching, this might be the last chance for the Browns to add an offensive tackle this season.
I consider offensive tackle the Browns’ most pressing need right now. If they were to make a significant addition, it would likely be at this position. Moving on from Wills could be challenging, especially considering that the Browns have already exercised his fifth-year option, committing to pay him around $14.5 million in 2024. To justify giving up valuable draft capital and cap space, a substantial upgrade would be necessary. Additionally, they would need to find a trade partner willing to take on a significant portion of Wills’ contract, which might be difficult. Nevertheless, I’ve put together a list of potential targets available via trade or free agency, if the Browns were to add an offensive tackle.
1. La’el Collins
The most significant advantage with Collins is his free-agent status, requiring no draft capital from the Browns to acquire him. Despite coming off an ACL tear and a subpar season as a Bengal, he presents a valuable upgrade in the run game, a pressing need for the Browns. Furthermore, Collins offers positional versatility, having experience at guard as well. Given the Browns’ lack of depth at both positions, Collins could play a sixth-man role while also providing competition for the starters.
If Collins were to fill a starting role, the Browns could consider playing him on the right side while shifting Jones to the left. Jones’ strong performance in pass protection suggests he might hold up as a blindside protector, possibly serving as a long-term replacement for Wills. In this scenario, Collins, at 30 years old and possibly past his prime, would act as a temporary starter until Conklin returns next year. This significant offensive line adjustment hinges on the Browns’ confidence in Jones adapting to the left side.
But I’m uncertain whether Collins would be willing to embrace a sixth-man role or the need to compete for a starting position, as several teams may be pursuing him as a starter at the moment. However, if the Browns could secure him on a one-year contract in the range of 3-6 million dollars, I’d absolutely make that deal. He’s my top choice for the Browns to add an offensive tackle since it wouldn’t require a substantial investment and still offers the flexibility to retain the current starters while adding depth at four positions on the offensive line.
2. Garett Bolles
The Broncos’ season hasn’t quite gone to plan, with a 1-5 record after six weeks. Reports suggest that Denver is considering trading some of their veteran players as part of a roster overhaul. Although there haven’t been any official reports on specific players Denver aims to trade, I would speculate that they consider moving Bolles. Furthermore, the Broncos already have a capable backup left tackle in Cam Fleming, who could step into a starting role.
Bolles, at 31, remains one of the league’s most well-rounded left tackles, still performing at a top-10 level. Acquiring him would be a relatively straightforward move for the Browns; they could simply swap Wills with Bolles to strengthen Watson’s blindside protection. He might be the only available player right now that brings a substantial enough upgrade, justifying the investment of significant draft capital.
In a potential trade, the Browns would likely need to part ways with Wills, perhaps even as part of the trade package if Denver expresses interest. Due to Cleveland’s cap constraints, it wouldn’t be possible to pay a backup tackle $14.5 million per year in 2024. This could play out to be similar to the situation the Browns faced with Baker Mayfield. Since 5th-year options are fully guaranteed, releasing Wills isn’t an option. Instead, Cleveland would probably pursue a trade similar to the one of Mayfield, involving absorbing the majority of the cap hit while receiving limited draft capital in return.
If the rumors are accurate and Denver is genuinely seeking to offload some veterans, I think Cleveland could potentially secure Bolles by offering a 2nd-3rd round pick or a mid to late-round pick along with Wills. While this move would undeniably improve the team’s on-field performance, there’s a valid concern about the necessary investment and the potential for significant cap challenges.
3. D.J. Humphries
The Cardinals are in an interesting situation right now. Their record and roster, especially on defense, might suggest a rebuilding year. Yet, they also have one of the league’s most promising young quarterbacks, Kyler Murray. Currently, Murray is working his way back from an ACL tear, he suffered late last year. Given the season’s trajectory, it might not be a bad idea to consider shutting Murray down and focus on building the roster in the offseason. Arizona is in a great position with 2 first-round picks and the 7th most cap space, according to Spotrac. Furthermore, they have Kelvin Beachum, a capable backup left tackle, who could provide solid play for the rest of the year.
This leads us to the last possible trade target I want to discuss in detail: D.J. Humphries. While his performance this season hasn’t been exceptional, he has a track record of being an above-average starter in the NFL. Like Bolles, Humphries would step in at left tackle for Wills. Humphries is about 1.5 years younger than Bolles, but he might not reach the same level of play, as a breakout seems unlikely at this stage of his career. Contract-wise, he comes with a similar price tag as Bolles, which raises the same cap concerns I previously mentioned regarding Wills’ contract.
The asking price from Arizona would depend on their approach for the remainder of the season, but it might be somewhat lower than what Denver would ask for Bolles. Perhaps something like a late-round pick and a player (e.g., Nick Harris or possibly Jedrick Wills). However, I wouldn’t consider this trade very likely unless Arizona was willing to cover a significant portion of Humphries’ contract. Also, considering his performance this season, he may not be as substantial of an upgrade as hoped.
Conclusion
I’m uncertain if the Browns feel the need to make immediate changes to their offensive tackle situation, especially following the strong performance of both starters against San Francisco’s impressive defensive front. Additionally, a move might bring some cap issues along. It’s more likely that the Browns will play out this season and consider options in free agency or the draft. However, if the Browns decide to take action right now, it might involve a candidate from the list I discussed.
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