4 Trades We'd Have Liked to See the Browns Make at 2026 NFL Trade Deadline

There was plenty of trade speculation and buzz surrounding the Cleveland Browns heading into the 2026 NFL trade deadline, but general manager Andrew Berry ultimately sat out the midseason trade bonanza.

It was probably the responsible move.

It would have been a harder sell to get aggressive after a loss to the New Orleans Saints dropped them to 5-4 on the season. The reality is that a weak schedule could keep the Browns in playoff contention this season and they could still wind up with a losing record at this rate.

Still, it's fun to think about what they could have done to improve the roster at this point. Draft picks are nice to have, but an additional player or two to bolster the young core driving the Browns' success would have been nice to see.

Here are a few hypothetical deals we would like to have seen them make.

Todd Monken Reunites with Charlie Kolar

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Chargers Receive: 2027 fifth-round pick

Browns Receive: TE Charlie Kolar

Charlie Kolar is not a household name, but he's someone who could have made a difference in the Browns' offense the rest of the season.

The Chargers signed Kolar to a three-year, $24.3 million contract this offseason. The Chargers are now 0-8, but they only traded away linebacker Daiyan Henley. Ultimately, they held on to players and it makes sense they didn't part with someone they just signed in the last offseason.

That being said, Kolar would have been a nice under-the-radar pickup for a Day 3 pick. The rest of his contract would have been a reasonable cost for Cleveland as Kolar would be a great tight end complement to Harold Fannin Jr.

Kolar is a decent receiver, but also works as a versatile blocker. That would allow the Browns to play more 12 personnel and free up Fannin as a route runner.

Head coach Todd Monken would be familiar with Kolar as both were in Baltimore last season. A reunion would have given the team a clear upgrade over Blake Whiteheart.

Khalil Mack Brings Experience and Production to Edge Room

AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea

Chargers Receive: 2027 fourth-round pick

Browns Receive: Edge Khalil Mack

Again, the Chargers weren't as open to trading players away as teams would have hoped. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Chargers warmed up to hearing offers on players, but trading Khalil Mack was a long shot.

That's a shame for the Browns because Mack would have been a great addition.

The need on the edge has been well-documented this season. The Browns have respectable pass rush numbers, but it's mostly been credited to their interior players.

Jared Verse has yet to register a sack. Isaiah McGuire has three sacks, but no other edge players have more than one.

Mack would not only have provided the Browns with a productive pass rusher, but offered some veteran experience to a group that could use it. Derek Barnett has plenty of experience, but the rest of the group is relatively young.

Mack is 35, but he has three sacks on the year. He wouldn't be a long-term fix. His production and experience would have helped this group become a real issue for offenses down the stretch, though.

Browns Beat Jaguars to the Punch on Davon Godchaux

AP Photo/Ella Hall

Saints Receive: 2028 conditional sixth-round pick

Browns Receive: DT Davon Godchaux

The other deals here are hypothetical. This one is different because Davon Godchaux really was moved before the deadline.

The Jaguars lost DaVon Hamilton for the season and traded for the 6'6", 330-pound stalwart to anchor their run defense in his absence. The Browns have plenty of explosive rushers on the inside.

They've also dealt with injuries that cost Mason Graham and Mike Hall Jr. games and Maliek Collins is still out with an elbow injury.

That, combined with the fact that the Browns just gave up 160 rushing yards to the Saints, highlights why defensive tackle may be a bigger need than one would think.

Godchaux would have been a nice trade target because he gives the Browns something they don't have right now. He's a run-stuffing defensive tackle who can hold up at the point of attack, eat blocks and free a linebacker like Carson Schwesinger to clean things up.

It's a move that would have made the Browns' entire defensive line more versatile and complete.

Josh Sweat Adds Dynamic Threat to Edge Rotation

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Cardinals Receive: 2027 fourth-round pick

Browns Receive: Edge Josh Sweat

Jared Verse was supposed to be the most-feared pass-rusher the Browns have. He was obviously the B-side of the Myles Garrett trade this offseason, but he combined for 12 sacks in his first two seasons.

The former Ram has put together some good performances against the run this season. He's seeing a good amount of double-teams, but he just isn't producing.

Isaiah McGuire has done some good things. His contract negotiations this offseason will be interesting. He's only 25 and is just now starting to be a notable producer.

Josh Sweat, meanwhile, is a 29-year-old pass-rusher coming off a 12.5-sack campaign last season. He's a bit older, but his contract would lock him in for two years at $18.1 million for each of the next two seasons.

Sweat was off to a slow start and the Cardinals are 3-6. It would have made sense for Arizona to deal some veterans, and the Browns could have been an interesting suitor.

He would have bolstered the pass rush down the stretch and been part of the solution for at least the next two seasons.