Cleveland Browns NFL Trade Rumors: Browns Want Third-Round Pick for Brock Osweiler
The Houston Texans just couldn't wait to get rid of quarterback Brock Osweiler. In fact, they actually gave up better draft picks to get the Cleveland Browns to take his contract off their hands.
But it looks like he might not even suit up for the Browns because they're planning to pass him around like a hot potato. According to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, Osweiler had been placed on the trading block right away after he was acquired from the Texans. Citing multiple league sources, Cabot said the Browns are willing to package the quarterback with a fifth-round pick for a third-round pick. They are also willing to retain half of his $16 million salary.
"If the Browns can pull off such a deal — a second-round pick for $8 million — it will have been a smart Moneyball move. As it is, they've spent $16 million to move up from a late fourth-rounder to a mid- to late-second rounder, a hefty sum for such a climb," Cabot stated in her report.
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The Browns have plenty of cap space, so they shouldn't have any problems retaining half his salary. However, finding a trade partner for Osweiler might be difficult especially if they're asking a third-round pick in return. "Several NFL personnel executives say they doubt anyone will give the Browns a third-round pick for Osweiler and pay him $8 million a year. If that could've been done, the Texans would've done it, they say," Cabot continued.
The Browns would release Osweiler and eat his salary if they fail to trade him. The 2018 second-round pick they received from the Texans would come in handy, though. According to Cabot, the Browns were still planning to pursue Jimmy Garoppolo and they might include the pick in a package to entice the New England Patriots to part with their backup quarterback.
