The season is not lost for the Cleveland Browns. While the past two weeks have been a rough roller coaster ride to sit through with the looming injury to the shoulder of quarterback Deshaun Watson, they still have eight of their last 12 games against AFC opponents, including three against their division rivals. If they want to shove another chip into the middle of the table to make a run, however, the Browns need to take a deep look at upgrading their left tackle situation as Jedrick Wills has failed to take a step in year four.
According to The OBR’s Brad Stainbrook, this is a move the Browns are already expected to look into as well. The problem? There are not a plethora of good offensive tackles just hanging out on the market. The Browns will likely have to pursue a current starting veteran on another team, and that will cost them valuable assets to do.
Sifting through who could be on their shortlist was a task as well, as the list is already short. Regardless, here are five names pulled that fit the bill from a financial and logical perspective if the Browns are looking to go out and find an upgrade to their current left tackle in Wills.
All financial figures were pulled from Over the Cap
Kelvin Beachum, Arizona Cardinals
The logic
This is the stopgap option. Under contract for another year beyond 2023, the Browns could go out and get a veteran who is currently the swing tackle for the Arizona Cardinals if they truly believe he would be an upgrade over Wills.
From his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Jacksonville Jaguars to the New York Jets, then the Cardinals, Beachum has experience at both left and right tackle throughout his 12-year career. He has always graded out as an above-average pass protector even if he is not a substantial people-mover in the run game.
This would be a true short-term, duct tape move if the Browns were to view Beachum as an immediate upgrade over Jedrick Wills.
The financials
Beachum has another year left on his contract near the veteran minimum, so the cost would be minimal to both acquire him and pay him for the next year and a half. The Cardinals, who are interested in acquiring draft capital in the first year of a new regime, would only have to eat just over $1 million in dead cap over the next two seasons to make the move as well.
This is a realistic and doable move from both sides that would not cost the Browns more than a late-round pick swap, which Berry has proven to be the best in the league at negotiating.
Cam Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
The logic
Cam Robinson was suspended the first four games of the season, and in his absence, Walker Little played well at the left tackle post for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The issue, however? The Jaguars kicked Little into left guard upon Robinson’s return, played 11 snaps, then got hurt, and is expected to miss multiple weeks.
That depth at offensive tackle dried up quickly for the Jaguars, so they may keep Robinson around now.
The financials
Robinson has one more year left on his deal beyond 2023, and the Browns would be responsible for a salary of $17.75 million if they were to acquire Robinson. Given the position of offensive tackle where there are not 32 good left tackles out there, the price is going to be elevated to get him.
However, if the Browns are truly looking for a noticeable upgrade at left tackle, they are not just hanging out in orbit. The Browns are going to have to pay up if they want to make this type of move.
D.J. Humphries, Arizona Cardinals
The logic
The second Cardinal offensive lineman to appear here, former first round pick and veteran offensive tackle D.J. Humphries fits the bill of a player who could be moved. The front office in Arizona is clearly in asset collection mode, his play has not been up to the level of his previous years under the new scheme of Drew Petzing, and he could be a contract they are looking to get off their books.
Getting Humphries back into a system that would allow him to set vertically in a phone booth and with a quarterback that likes to utilize spread and empty looks could allow the veteran to return to form. Given his play this season, his age nearing 30, and the terms of his contract, the Cardinals could shop Humphries for a bargain.
Quite frankly, having a guy like Beachum still on their roster might be enough for the Cardinals to logically make the move without feeling like they have left a void at left tackle.
The financials
In what would be a win for the Browns if they made the deal and he returned to form, Humphries is under contract through 2025. The cap hit the Browns would be forced to pay if they made the deal would sit right at $16 million over the next two years after the Cardinals would eat his bonus in dead money. This is the price of Wills’ fifth-year option anyway.
This is a deal that could likely get done for cheaper than one would imagine.
Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos
The logic
The word on the street is that the Denver Broncos are going to start shipping off veterans. They already traded pass rusher Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers, and he will not be the only one. Wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton are rumored to be on the chopping block, and one has to think that left tackle Garret Bolles is on that shortlist of players to be moved as well.
I am less enthralled by 31-year-old Bolles than most. Looking all over Browns Twitter, Bolles appears to be the fan favorite and the only option the Browns can make. Sure, he’s a significant upgrade, but other factors would make this move a questionable one for the Browns.
The financials
Bolles is already 31 years old, and is only under contract for one more season beyond 2023, but would have just a cap hit of $16 million in 2024. If the Browns were to make this move, they would have to cough up a pretty penny to acquire him, then they would likely need to turn right around and work out a new deal with the left tackle on the wrong side of 30.
It is still possible, but it is not as realistic as the fanbase thinks. Nor is it the first offensive tackle I would look at on the trade market.
Kolton Miller, Las Vegas Raiders
The logic
If we are talking about the best fit from a scheme, age, and financial perspective out there, it is Las Vegas Raiders’ left tackle Kolton Miller. Given all of these factors as well, however, that would also make Miller the most expensive option to go out and get in a trade with the flailing Raiders.
Josh McDaniels will not be the head coach of the Raiders next year. Jimmy Garoppolo will likely not be the quarterback of the Raiders next year. This is a team that has the making of a unit ready to press the big red button.
And if they do, getting assets out of their 28-year-old left tackle might be something they’d be willing to pursue. And for a team like the Browns that pays close attention to athletic metrics among other data, one would have to think Miller has their eye.
The financials
Surprisingly, Miller is the least expensive of the obvious upgrades mentioned despite likely being the most significant needle-mover.
Under contract through the 2025 season, Miller’s cap hit would be minimal once the Raiders ate their required dead money. If the Browns were to make this move, Miller’s cap hit in 2024 would be just under $9 million, and his cap hit in 2025 would be at $12.3 million. Do you hear that? That is the sound of a contract extension with the sole intent of resetting that base salary to the veteran minimum as Berry does all of his extensions.
Given all of the pros of a move for Miller, however, it would cost Berry and the Browns a pretty penny to get him that would likely be in the Day 2 pick plus more range.
