Teams Calling Browns at Trade Deadline Reportedly Unsure of Power Structure

The Cleveland Browns are two losses shy of their eighth consecutive losing season, and the continued struggles prompted trade talks for pricier contributors in what appeared an effort to free up finances for a rebuild. 

But those talks never manifested due to what is speculated as front office dysfunction, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com. Interested parties calling didn’t know who was in charge. 

Breer reported one team seeking negotiations for a “prominent player” reached out to general manager Ray Farmer, who said he needed to consult with others first. When responding, the asking price was “prohibitively high” and nothing came about, per Breer.

A rival executive pegged the Browns' handling at the deadline a “very Cleveland” process, per Breer, who wrote: “Most notable, in the eyes of other clubs, was the trouble in figuring out who was carrying the hammer."

The Browns were warranted to seek high compensation for players such as left tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack, both of whom were rumored in trade talks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, and considered among the best at their position. 

But the manner any prospective deals were handled, whether for the pair of linemen or others, reeks of a dysfunctional front office whose actions align with the troubling on-field performance. 

The Browns haven’t reached the playoffs since 2002, and any rebuild outside of the draft and free agency will require cleaner in-house and external communication.