Trading Jack Conklin is not an option for the Cleveland Browns.
That should have been apparent after the team trotted out James Hudson III and Geron Christian as their starting bookends deep into the season and into the playoffs. And it should be even more apparent now after three offensive tackles all suffered injuries in the second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Browns do not have healthy offensive tackles, and Conklin and starting left tackle Jedrick Wills fall into that category as well. However, the indications out of Berea are that both players are close to returning to the practice field.
Conklin has long been a popular name to throw around in trade talks, predominantly due to the money he is owed this season and into the future, and due to the emergence of Dawand Jones after he suffered another season-ending knee injury in the Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals a year ago.
Set for a cap number of $10.56 million in 2024, that is a healthy amount to pay
His starting job is likely gone, and so is he after this season (the Browns can save over $16 million in cap space with just over $2 million in dead cap to move on) unless he steps in, plays at the top of his game again, and stays healthy. After all, Wills is a free agent after the season.
However, the Browns have a window now.
And while the same thing could happen again this season that happened last, where all three of their top tackles suffered season-ending knee injuries, that amount of injury unluck seems likely to progress back to the mean.
While Hudson III has filled in as the swing tackle for the Browns over the last three seasons, his play on the field has proven to be a liability. And a massive one. The Browns cannot afford for Hudson III to be their next man up any longer, especially not in a crucial 2024 season for quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offense.
He’s a $10.5 million swing tackle in 2024, but a necessary player for the Browns to keep on their roster.