The Cleveland Browns are 2-6 and are coming off a tough loss to the New England Patriots in Week 8 of the NFL season. Due to their Week 9 bye, the Browns have plenty of time to determine what they’ll do at the trade deadline.
With their poor record, the expectation would be that the Browns sell off some of their players for draft picks at the deadline. However, while they might still trade away some players, that might not be all that the Browns do at the deadline.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Browns might pull off the unexpected and try to acquire players at the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
The Browns are reportedly looking to buy at the 2025 NFL trade deadline
“Though Cleveland has already completed three trades in the past month,” Schefter writes, “… most sources believe that the Browns will be aggressive in acquiring players before the deadline.”
If Cleveland looks to add players, such additions wouldn’t be rental options. Instead, they could go out and acquire younger players on rookie contracts or veterans signed for more than 2025 at positions of need.
An interesting move that the Browns could pull off would be to acquire Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins. Since Miami is asking for a first-round pick, the Browns could move one of their two firsts for Waddle.
More: Browns’ Myles Garrett surpasses Reggie White’s sack record against Patriots
They’ve already completed a similar trade earlier in the year. They shipped off Greg Newsome II to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Tyson Campbell. Newsome has played better this season, but Campbell is signed for the next few seasons.
Cleveland isn’t ready to contend this season, but if it can acquire talent for the 2026 season and beyond, it’d be a good move to make. Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski are looking to add players at the deadline.
Typically, teams with the browns’ record are sellers, not buyers. But in the Browns’ case, acquiring young talent makes a lot of sense. Cleveland is one of the more interesting teams to monitor at the 2025 trade deadline, as they could be both buyers and sellers, according to this report from Schefter.
