Players the Browns Should Trade to Shed Salary

The Cleveland Browns are in a pretty good financial situation right now. They're top 12 in terms of available space, but given disappointment from last season's 6-10 finish, they could be looking to make some major upgrades in free agency.

If Cleveland pursues big-name players, like Jack Conklin, that $58 million in cap space could disappear quickly. So with that in mind, here are three players the Browns should look to trade in an effort to shed salary.

1. Olivier Vernon, Defensive End

Olivier Vernon isn't a surefire bet to be back with the Browns 2020. / Al Pereira/Getty Images

Olivier Vernon currently has the highest cap hit on the team in 2020, making him a natural target if Cleveland is looking to create cap space. While he wasn't too impactful as a pass-rusher in 2019, racking up just 3.5 sacks, he still was solid against the run. While the price tag ($15.5 million) could scare teams off, he could provide a boost for a DE-needy squad. He is also going into the last year of his deal, so inquiring teams wouldn't have to worry about a longterm commitment.

2. Christian Kirksey, Linebacker

Christian Kirksey has played a combined nine games over the past two seasons. / Al Pereira/Getty Images

Christian Kirksey is a very solid player when on the field, but he just hasn't been able to stay healthy lately. He's played in just nine combined games over the past two seasons. Perhaps a change of scenery would do both parties some good, as trading Kirksey's $9.5 million salary might allow Cleveland to make some significant upgrades in the open market.

3. Chris Hubbard, Offensive Tackle

Chris Hubbard had a down year in 2019. / Ralph Freso/Getty Images

The Browns' struggles on the offensive line were well documented. Chris Hubbard was more a part of the problem than the solution last year, though, and he's owed over $7 million in 2020. Cleveland can move on with just $2.4 million in dead cap, and if the Browns find a team willing to take a chance on the 28-year-old tackle, a trade would make more sense.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.