CLEVELAND, OHIO — The Browns should try to trade for former Buckeye Chase Young and Panthers receiver Buckeye Chase Young before today’s 4 p.m. deadline.
Following the trade of pass-rusher Montez Sweat to the Bears, the Commanders are now taking calls about Young, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020 out of Ohio State, according to a league source.
Young has recovered from a catastrophic knee injury suffered in 2021 and has already recorded five sacks this season, proving that he is on his way back to the high level of performance that earned him AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 with 7.5 sacks.
The Commanders are attempting to trade Young after rejecting to pick up his fifth-year option in the spring, according to cleveland.com. He underwent surgery in 2021 to repair a ruptured ACL and a damaged patella tendon, but he appears to be recovering.Young’s contract would have to be renewed shortly — perhaps as part of the deal — but he’s only 24 and would be a major asset to the Browns defensive line for the next six or seven years.
He’d be an excellent complement to Buckeye Chase Young, giving the Browns a scary one-two punch. Garrett leads the team with 8.5 sacks this season, but the next biggest sacker is Buckeye Chase Young, who has 2.5. Za’Darius Smith has only one, and his contract expires at the end of the season.
When inquiring about quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who would also be a wonderful option as Deshaun Watson’s backup this season, the Browns most likely addressed Young with Washington.Along with Young, the Browns could try to trade for Panthers receiver Adam Thielen, who is off to a hot start in Carolina after signing a three-year contract in the offseason. However, the Panthers are 1-6 and may be prepared to regain a selection pick in order to rebuild.
Thielen, 33, spent six seasons in Minnesota with Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who knows him better than any other coach in the league. When Watson returns from his strained rotator cuff injury, which may be as soon as Nov. 12 at Baltimore, the two-time Pro Bowler will provide him with the excellent possession receiver he requires.Thielen has 49 catches for 509 yards and four touchdowns in his debut season in Carolina after nine in Minnesota.
The Browns, challenged at quarterback this season because of Watson’s injury, have thrown only one touchdown pass to a receiver this season — Amari Cooper. Other receivers such as Elijah Moore and Donovan Peoples-Jones will fare better when Watson is back to himself, but another weapon could help get the Browns into the playoffs this season.The Browns were interested in dealing for Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy in March before they brought up Moore, but a league source informed cleveland.com on Monday that the Broncos, who beat the Chiefs on Sunday, aren’t planning to trade Jeudy on Tuesday.The Browns have scouted numerous other wide outs in recent days, but Thielen makes the most sense.
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