Browns Players Who Should Be on the Trade Block After Week 3

The Cleveland Browns have one of the deeper offensive depth charts in the NFL.

For some players on the roster, the squad may be too big for them to earn consistent playing time as the 2021 NFL season rolls around.

The final running back and tight end on the Cleveland depth chart already see minimal playing time and would benefit from a trade away from the AFC North.

The same could be said about one of the team’s defensive linemen who did not play at all in the Week 3 contest with the Chicago Bears.

Cleveland does not need to make massive changes to its roster, but it never hurts to bring in a draft pick or two for fringe players who could have more success elsewhere.

D'Ernest Johnson's path to any playing time was questionable at best going into the season with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt at 100 percent.

His playing time could diminish more in the coming weeks if Demetric Felton turns into more of an asset in the passing game.

Felton earned five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown in the last two games against Chicago and the Houston Texans, while Johnson picked up two carries for nine yards in his lone spell of offensive action in Week 3.

If Kevin Stefanski calls on Felton to be involved more in the aerial attack, Johnson could be on the outside looking in.

The Browns will not receive much in a trade for the 25-year-old, but he could be worth a third-day selection that the team could use to build depth.

Cleveland has one of the most crowded tight end rooms in the NFL.

Austin Hooper and David Njoku are making a combined $14 million this season, so it could be hard for the Browns to find a trading partner for either player. It also wouldn't make sense for the Browns to deal either veteran due to their involvement in the passing game.

Hooper and Njoku are second and third on the team in receiving yards, respectively, behind Kareem Hunt. They should play a larger role in the offense while Jarvis Landry is out injured.

Harrison Bryant is making less than $1 million on his rookie contract, and he only has five catches in three weeks.

Tight end depth can be hard to find across the league and Bryant may be viewed as a valuable piece by a team looking to add more depth in that aspect of the game.

Andrew Billings saw his snap count decrease over the first three weeks. The defensive tackle appeared on 11 plays in Week 1, six snaps in Week 2 and did not feature at all in Week 3.

The 26-year-old played in 30 games over the last two seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals but has not been able to crack the rotation with another AFC North squad.

Malik Jackson and Malik McDowell earned three starts each on the defensive interior and Jordan Elliott received more snaps in every game compared to Billings.

Unless something changes soon, Billings does not appear to be in Cleveland’s defensive plans. He could find more playing time elsewhere in the league and the Browns could get a third-day pick in return.