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This page lists all the 2023 Trades for the Cleveland Browns. I’ve listed all of the NFL Free Agent Signing Grades here, which included the trades. Because I’ve begun posting polls for the trades, I thought it would make sense to list just the NFL trades here, so archiving the voting would be easier.
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- Total Trades: 4
- Average Grade: B+ (88)
October 2023 – Trades and Signings
Lions acquire WR Donovan Peoples-Jones from Browns for 2025 6th-round pick
The Lions don’t have many weaknesses because their front office has put together a tremendous roster. Receiving depth, however, is an issue because Jameson Williams has not lived up to his first-round billing just yet. There’s still plenty of time for that to happen, but the Lions needed some help this year as they make their playoff run.
Donovan Peoples-Jones won’t move the needle very much, but he’s a solid addition for the Lions. He’ll be a fine tertiary option for Jared Goff. Peoples-Jones has always been inconsistent in Cleveland, but it never seemed as though the Browns ever figured out how to use him. Perhaps Detroit will have better luck.
I think this is fair compensation for both teams. I think the Lions come out a bit ahead, but it’s nice that the Browns could get something for a player they didn’t use enough.
Grade for Lions – B+
Grade for Browns – B
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August 2023 – Trades and Signings
Cardinals acquire QB Joshua Dobbs, 7th-round pick from Browns for 5th-round pick
I don’t understand this trade for the Cardinals. Moving down from the fifth to the seventh round Won’t have the greatest impact, but This trade seems completely unnecessary.
The Cardinals obviously have quarterback issues with Kyler Murray nursing a torn ACL, but it’s not like Joshua Dobbs is going to start over Colt McCoy. The Cardinals also have Clayton Tune as a backup, and Tune played rather well in the second preseason game, so where does Dobbs fit in? If the Cardinals wanted another quarterback so badly, they could have waited after final cuts and signed someone comparable to Dobbs.
The Browns obviously won this trade. Dorian Thompson-Robinson became the favorite to win the No. 2 job anyway, so moving up two rounds by trading someone irrelevant is definitely a terrific transaction.
Grade for Cardinals – D
Grade for Browns – A
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May 2023 – Trades and Signings
Browns acquire DE Za'Darius Smith, 2025 6th-, 7th-round picks from Vikings for 2024 & 2025 5th-round picks
You’d think the Browns would have possessed a great pass rush in recent years because of Myles Garrett’s presence, but that hasn’t been the case. No one has been able to generate pressure on the quarterback aside from Garrett, so this trade can’t be too surprising. Za’Darius Smith logged 10 sacks last year, so he will be a viable bookend for Garrett. He’ll certainly help Cleveland improve defensively and potentially reach the playoffs. Smith is just a 1-year rental with an expiring contract, but the Browns didn’t surrender much in this trade.
As for the Vikings, this is definitely a disappointing development and an obvious ramification of Kirk Cousins’ horrible contract. The Vikings needed to shed some salary, so at least they’re able to upgrade two late-round selections into a pair of mid-round picks. That said, Smith’s departure will really hurt a defense that was already poor against the pass.
Grade for Browns – A
Grade for Vikings – C-
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March 2023 – Trades and Signings
Browns acquire WR Elijah Moore from Jets for swap of 2023 2nd- and 3rd-round picks
No one should be surprised that Elijah Moore was traded after they signed Mecole Hardman earlier in the day. Moore and Hardman were redundant pieces of the offense, so Moore had to go. Moore already made it known that he was disgruntled, so a replacement was needed anyway.
The Jets did well to move up from No. 74 to 42. With this improved draft capital, trading selections for Aaron Rodgers will sting less. I think they won this trade, though I don’t hate the move for the Browns either. Cleveland sorely lacked receiving depth behind Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Moore is young and has upside. I don’t like that the Browns won’t be picking until No. 74, but Moore should be able to help Deshaun Watson.
Grade for Browns – B
Grade for Jets – A-
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