There is a belief within NFL circles that one of the NFL’s best offensive linemen could be on the move at the trade deadline. According to a report, “multiple NFL general managers” think that the Cleveland Browns will shop Joe Thomas, even though Hue Jackson has said the opposite.
“Despite Hue Jackson saying this week that Thomas will not be traded, those GM’s believe that Browns’ vice president Sashi Brown will move him,” Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole said. “He tried hard last year to move Thomas, calling multiple teams to gauge interest. But Cleveland will only make that trade if the value adds up.”
If Cleveland really wants to move Thomas, chances are that he’ll be traded. Of course, a player like Thomas will require a good haul, quite possibly including a first-round pick. But there are 11 NFL teams who have surrendered 17 or more sacks this season. Of those, we can only definitely say that the Browns and San Francisco 49ers are out of the playoff race.
Included in that mix are possible Super Bowl contenders like the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons. The same can be said about the Seattle Seahawks, who have not allowed as many sacks on Russell Wilson, but haven’t kept the pocket clean for him, either.
With that many contending teams in need of offensive line help, the chances of Cleveland getting what it would consider fair value are dramatically increased.