The Cleveland Browns are largely regarded as sellers ahead of the NFL’s early November trade deadline, though a couple of team insiders linked Cleveland on Wednesday to a potential trade for a disgruntled star wide receiver.
According to Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland and his guest host Chopz, the Browns are trying to get in the mix for wideout Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets.
“There’s a lot of wide receiver chatter out there with the Browns, and [general manager Andrew Berry] is sniffing around,” Chopz said. “Garrett Wilson’s name is popping up right now. … That seems like such an Andrew Berry move, because Garrett Wilson seems to be on the outs in New York because they have a new regime. There’s video of him fighting with [head coach] Aaron Glenn, who the owner backed yesterday actually.”
Garrett Wilson Trade Makes Sense for Browns Given Rookie QB Timeline
GettyQuarterbacks Shedeur Sanders (left) and Dillon Gabriel (right) of the Cleveland Browns.
Even though the Browns could be preparing to deal high-profile players like offensive guard Wyatt Teller and tight end David Njoku, making a move to acquire an elite receiver actually does make sense for the long-term.
Cleveland is in the middle of auditioning third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel for the job of franchise quarterback. At some point this season, Shedeur Sanders is also likely to get the chance to start a few games and show what he can do.
One of the team’s two first-year signal-callers might hit, in which case there is little reason not to add an elite No. 1 wideout into the locker room for the long haul. And if neither Gabriel or Sanders sets himself apart in 2025, the Browns have two first-rounders in the 2026 draft to look for a top prospect in what should be a strong QB class.
If Cleveland lands a top quarterback next April, whoever that player might be, his chances of success will balloon if Wilson is leading the WR room alongside Jerry Jeudy with standout rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. entering his second professional season.
The Browns have five rookie starters in 2025, including breakout running back Quinshon Judkins. A player like Wilson is young enough to play on the same timeline as Cleveland’s youth, but also experienced enough to serve as a veteran presence and mentor in the locker.
Garrett Wilson’s Contract Lines Up With Browns’ Ability to Move on From QB Deshaun Watson
GettyNew York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
Wilson just inked a four-year contract worth $130 million, which keeps him under contract through his age-30 season in 2030. However, that deal doesn’t kick in until 2027.
Whether the Browns deal Njoku or not, his contract is up next spring. Meanwhile, the team has one more extremely painful Deshaun Watson year on the books in 2026 ($80.7 million salary cap hit).
Unfortunately for Cleveland, the team will probably need to restructure Watson’s deal yet again to reduce that hit and allow the organization to at least attempt competitiveness next season. But even if the Browns push a good deal of that Watson’s 2026 money off into the future, circumstances involving the QB’s contract should get considerably less painful after next year, when the first big season of Wilson’s money is set to hit the books.
The point is that a deal for a player like Wilson, which doesn’t get truly expensive until after the Browns can get beyond the worst parts of the financial albatross that is Watson’s contract, is more feasible now than a year or two ago because the end of the Watson era is in sight.
A Wilson trade is also logical now because the Browns are getting younger and should be starting a QB on a rookie contract for the foreseeable future. That means a signal-caller who won’t be too expensive for several seasons to come and will benefit from growing with a player like Wilson to help show him the way.
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