Greg Ellis: Should the Cleveland Browns Trade for the Cowboys Linebacker?

It has been reported today that the Dallas Cowboy's have placed veteran linebacker Greg Ellis on the trading block. The Cowboys intend to trade Ellis so former 2007 first-round pick Anthony Spencer can take his starting role.

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Now take this in for a second and think...Should the Cleveland Browns make a push for Ellis? There are mixed thoughts (at least in my head).

There is plenty of good in Ellis.

Ellis was the Cowboy's first-round draft pick in the 1998 draft (eighth overall) and has been a consistent player for their organization ever since.

In 11 seasons in NFL, all with Dallas, Ellis has only missed 14 games. Also in that span, he has racked up 77.0 sacks, and collected four interceptions. He obviously knows how to play, and could be a great pickup for the Browns.

But of course, there is also some bad to him.

Ellis is 33 and will be 34 by the time the seasons starts. With that said, he won't be cheap to acquire. The Cowboys won't just hand him over, and I would have to say they wouldn't take anything less than a second-round pick.

If age isn't a huge factor then he will be okay. He played/started every game last season while racking up 8.0 sacks. Age doesn't seem to be a factor.

The question on acquiring him is the trade. Head Coach Eric Mangini has made it clear he likes him some draft picks. The Browns aren't looking to ship any players off, so trading picks may be the only option in this scenario.

The Browns do have two fifth-round picks in next year's draft, so maybe packaging one of them with their second-round pick could work. A third and fifth would be a no-brainer, and even if it was a second and fifth, the trade would be great.

Kamerion Wimbley needs a pass-rushing mentor, along with the other young players like Alex Hall, David Veikune, etc. The Browns front seven needs a bonafide pass rusher to help out the rest of the defense.

Having Ellis could help the younger players out tremendously while helping the team's front seven out considerably. If the trade fits, then the Browns should pull the trigger on it.