Browns Trade Rumors: Emmanuel Ogbah on Block After Olivier Vernon Move
March 13, 2019
The Cleveland Browns may not be done making moves, as defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah is reportedly on the trade block.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Browns have started shopping Ogbah after their acquisition of Olivier Vernon.
Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported last week the Browns were acquiring Vernon from the New York Giants in exchange for offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler. According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, that deal has been combined with the Browns' trade for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The Giants' return for Vernon and Beckham is Zeitler, safety Jabrill Peppers, a first-round pick and a third-rounder.
Cabot noted after the Vernon report that Ogbah could be on the move soon.
"He's in the final year of a contract that pays him $1.351 million, so he'd be an inexpensive acquisition for a team needing a good defensive lineman, and the Browns could acquire an extra pick, maybe even in the 2020 draft," Cabot wrote.
Cleveland's timeline to compete has changed dramatically this offseason. After posting a 7-8-1 record in 2018, the Browns have put together a roster loaded with talent. Beckham will join an offense that includes Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and David Njoku. The defense is led by Myles Garrett, Damarious Randall and Denzel Ward.
Browns general manager John Dorsey was optimistic about Ogbah's ability to succeed in new defensive coodinator Steve Wilks' system next season.
"His more natural position may be outside as a 5-technique," Dorsey told reporters at the Senior Bowl in January. "We'll know more as we go into OTAs, but outside is his more natural position."
Drafted No. 32 overall in 2016, Ogbah showed promise as a rookie with 5.5 sacks in 16 starts. The 25-year-old has had injury problems over the past two seasons, missing eight games.