The Cleveland Browns have had an eventful offseason. The Browns acquired Amari Cooper and then made a blockbuster trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson to take over for Baker Mayfield, who's still on the roster. They also added more talent by selecting nine rookies in the 2022 NFL Draft and just brought back Jadeveon Clowney. Though they have made all these big moves, they still have holes they need to address prior to the start of the new season.
Fortunately for the Browns, they can still manufacture trades in order to get experienced players who can make them a more complete team for 2022. Hopefully, acquiring these guys will be able to elevate Cleveland to play at a higher level and return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
With that said, let's take a look at three trade targets for the Browns to complete their 2022 roster.
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Browns Trade Targets To Complete 2022 Roster
3. Trayvon Mullen
Out of all the needs on their roster, the Browns opted to select a cornerback in Mississippi State's Martin Emerson in the third round of the draft. Shortly after, they traded Troy Hill back to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a future draft asset.
Now, the Browns are left with Greedy Williams, A.J. Green, and Emerson to compete for the nickel spot. It seems like the team is not yet done and will look to add another defensive back to the fold. A player they can target is Trayvon Mullen from the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Clemson product is entering the final year of his contract after failing to sign a contract extension last offseason. He was previously a key player in the Raiders' secondary during his first two years in the league. Mullen then missed significant time during the 2021 season after being plagued with injuries. He finished with 20 combined tackles, four passes defended, and an interception in five games played.
Mullen should come in cheap, given that he had an unproductive season. Though there is a bit of a gamble regarding his health, he still offers plenty of upside if healthy.
2. L.J. Collier
Another group that could be bolstered more would be the defensive line, even with the recent return of Clowney. The Browns drafted two defensive linemen in Alex Wright and Perrion Winfrey, but both players still need more time and experience to contribute in a huge way for Cleveland.
The team could potentially target L.J. Collier from the Seattle Seahawks. After a career year in 2020, he only had 10 appearances in 2021. He ended the season with eight combined tackles, five QB hits and a pass defended.
As expected, the Seahawks declined the fifth-year option of his contract, thus making him an unrestricted free agent by the end of the 2022 season. Certainly enough, a change in scenery would greatly benefit Collier's career and give him an opportunity to bounce back.
There's no assurance that Collier would return to his old form right from the get-go, but he would be a nice depth piece to add to this defensive line.
1. Daron Payne
In a bid to add more talent to the interior defensive line, the Browns could target Daron Payne from the Washington Commanders. He is coming off the best season of his four-year career after tallying 61 combined tackles, 15 QB hits, and 4.5 sacks in 17 games played.
Like the other players on this list, Payne is also about to enter the final season of his rookie contract. He is expected to be an unrestricted free agent by the 2022 season. However, the former Alabama standout will be more expensive should the Browns choose to manufacture a trade to acquire his services, given that he had a productive campaign in 2021.
Still, Cleveland's defense would receive a significant boost by adding a talent like Payne. With good health, he would make a sizable contribution to the Browns' defense alongside Clowney and Myles Garrett.
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