The Cleveland Browns could make a run for Aaron Donald

[ad_1]

The Cleveland Browns may try to land Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams.

Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry once said that they never stop improving their team, no matter where they are in the season. Well, that appears to still be the case as rumors abound that the Browns have their eyes on a former NFL All-Pro defensive tackle. According to Pete Smith of Browns Digest, the Browns could be involved in a potential Aaron Donald trade, if the Los Angeles Rams choose to start trading pieces following a slow start.

Now, we have to be clear, Smith is not reporting that the Browns are in talks with the Rams, even though we all know that. Instead, he says the Browns can enter into any trade talks involving the Rams defensive tackle.

Any trade involving Donald would have to see either the Browns cut a major money maker like Nick Chubb or Joel Bitonio, or have Donald adjust his contract, push his loan money over the line, and give the Browns some flexibility.

While I’m usually against pushing and delaying debt money, I don’t want debt money handcuffing the team as they try to maintain a dynasty, the fact is this team won’t be a dynasty. As we see with the Rams who currently go “all-in”, you don’t see your window closed, but the whole house around you is on fire.

The Browns may have a chance to win the Super Bowl this year, and maybe next, but after that? They’d be lucky to put a winning team on Deshaun Watson’s contract beyond that. We all know it, the Browns know it, which is why it makes sense to land Donald now. The team was not built for long-term success, it was, before Watson, but since, not so much.

So if we’re looking at a full rebuild in the coming years, it makes sense to try and take advantage of the window of opportunity the team has this year and maybe next. Yes, it means hurting the team’s future for the present, and normally, that’s stupid, but we’re over the Rubicon. We either make the best of this situation or we really don’t get anything meaningful out of these trying times as Browns fans.

What will it take for the Cleveland Browns to land Aaron Donald?

It’s important to note that the Rams have, arguably, the second-best or best defensive player of the last 20 years, next to JJ Watt. Donald isn’t going to be cheap and you can’t just throw them scraps to get him.

I think three draft picks will kick things off; 2025 first-round, 2024 second-round, 2026 fourth-round. You share the picks owed to try to keep your future draft classes as intact as possible.

After that, the players. I’ll put in four just for transactional needs, but it could be spent on five or six, or more if it’s about making money. So the four players I would throw in, along with past draft picks are; Cedric Tillman, Jerome Ford, Tommy Togiai, and Grant Delpit.

Now, we could do something based around Greg Newsome, David Bell, and maybe Donovan Peoples-Jones, but then we’re talking about very different draft compensation.

Regardless, I think the Browns should call the Rams and then Donald’s agent and start talking turkey because if you can pair Donaldson with Delvin Tomlinson and Myles Garrett, then it doesn’t matter who’s on the other end , is it not?

Published on 07/08/2023 at 23:00 PMLast updated on 07/08/2023 at 23:00 PM

[ad_2]