Cleveland Browns’ Star named shocking trade candidate

The Cleveland Browns have one of the strongest offensive lines in football, and right tackle Jack Conklin is one of the most prominent members of that team.

The Browns signed Conklin as a free agent in March 2020. Conklin’s first season in Cleveland was a success, as he was named to the First Team All-Pro.

Since then, however, things have gotten worse.

Injuries have limited Conklin to just 22 games over the last three seasons, but in December 2022 (during Conklin’s 14-game season), the Browns signed him to a four-year, $60 million contract extension.

A year and a half later, Conklin is a potential trade candidate.

At least that’s what Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes.

Conklin’s name was highlighted in a column by Knox in which he identified the top ten players who might potentially be traded before training camp begins.

It actually makes sense given the success of fellow tackle Dawand Jones last season, who took over for Conklin when the latter suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2.

The Browns now have three very capable offensive tackles in Conklin, Jones, and Jedrick Wills, all of whom are recuperating from knee surgery.

However, given Conklin’s long injury history (he has not played a complete season since 2019, when he was with the Tennessee Titans), relocating him could make sense, especially as he has already been rumored to come off the bench in 2024.

The 29-year-old’s deal runs through 2026. Trading him now would save up $3.1 million in salary space for the Browns this season (allowing them to give more money to, say, Amari Cooper) while also allowing them to avoid the final three years of Conklin’s contract.

Conklin is a fantastic player when healthy, but he hasn’t been healthy since arriving in Cleveland, and with Jones on the rise, the Browns may be better off trading Conklin now. Not only would they save money, but they would also be able to reclaim a reasonable draft asset.