The Cleveland Browns are exploring the trade market to find offensive line help, following the injury to Dawand Jones.
Jones suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of Week 3, and the tackle is set for surgery, ending his season. It was disappointing news for the Browns, and ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reveals the team is exploring trade options to replace him.
“And Cleveland — whose general manager, Andrew Berry, is never afraid to put together a deal — needs offensive tackle help because of a season-ending knee injury to left tackle Dawand Jones. The Browns are looking at options there,” Fowler wrote.
Cleveland selected Jones in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The tackle started games in his rookie season and was a fixture of the offensive line last season.
But, for the third-straight season, Jones suffered an injury that will put him on the injured reserve and end his season.
If the Browns don’t make a move, Cornelius Lucas expects to start at left tackle for Cleveland in Week 4.
Browns Coach Disappointed With Jones’ Injury
Jones was off to a good season, but his year is already done after a season-ending knee injury.
After it was reported that Jones would be done for the season, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he was disappointed for the tackle.
“Disappointing for the young man. He’ll battle back. He’ll rehab, and he’ll be ready to go, but disappointed for him,” Stefanski said. “Obviously a young player that was getting better. He played right tackle in the last game for those plays before he was injured. But he’s played on both sides of the ball. Disappointed overall for the young man. But he’s somebody that will continue to work, and now he’s just going to have to focus on his rehab.”
Following Jones being placed on the IR, Cleveland signed Thayer Munford Jr. from the New England Patriots‘ practice squad. Munford was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. However, he was released after training camp this season. After he was cut, Munford signed with the Patriots’ practice squad.
Cleveland Linked to Former 1st-Round Pick Tackle
If the Browns do make a move for a tackle, Cleveland could look to acquire a former first-round pick.
The Browns have a hole at left tackle, and NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report links Cleveland as a potential landing spot for Evan Neal.
“Neal never developed into a reliable starter at tackle. The Giants tried moving him to guard, but he couldn’t beat out Greg Van Roten for the job,” Knox wrote. “Neal didn’t get on the field in Week 1 after failing to beat out Aaron Stinnie for a backup role.
“Still, Neal is a former first-round pick with 29 appearances and 27 starts on his resume who might be able to provide depth at both tackle and guard,” Knox added. “Teams with questionable depth at either spot should be willing to take a chance for a late-round flier. Seeing as how the Alabama product can’t even get on the field for the Giants, New York would probably dump the impending 2026 free agent for a late-round pick.”
Neal was selected seventh overall in 2022 by the New York Giants.
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