Browns looking to trade Alex Mack and Joe Thomas
 

Browns looking to trade Alex Mack and Joe Thomas

The news is rather surprising given that Thomas is under contract through 2018 -- he has no guaranteed money for 2016 -- and Mack, who was almost lost in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars a season ago, has a no-trade clause. Mack -- who was listed by our Marc Sessler as a prime trade candidate earlier this week -- can opt out of his long-term deal after this season, though, which could be a motivating factor.

Still, this is an interesting and rather unorthodox approach to the trade deadline. The team likely feels they can replace Mack with 2015 first-round pick Cam Erving and slot one of their other highly-regarded offensive linemen in for Thomas.

Rapoport added that the team is also open to dealing former high-priced free agent acquisition Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo, the No. 6 overall pick from the 2013 draft. This, after already dealing Trent Richardson, their No. 3 overall pick from the 2012 draft. If you're just now sensing a pattern here, catch up. This is Browns football.

This would be the ultimate white flag raised on the 2015 season considering the Browns were going to hang their hat on the run game. Thomas has been one of the franchise's greatest players and, in a way, a trade to a contending opponent would be bittersweet. On one hand, he could finally put his skills to better use, but on the other, he would be departing a team that hinged on his professionalism for years.

Many of these talks often break down but scars from certain names leaking remain. So if general manager Ray Farmer is interested in getting it done, the clock is ticking. Nov. 3, 4 p.m. ET is coming quite soon.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...and-joe-thomas

Going all in for that QBOTF.

I just hope Joe Thomas isn't traded to the Patriots

Belichick will get him for a sixth, knowing Belichick.

Trade for Joe Thomas and draft QB in 1st round.

Profit.

You have to figure that Roger Goodell is on the phone right now trying to make that happen.

I mean BOOM!

Last 3 years of Thomas' deal are set for salaries (with bonuses) of

9.2m
9.8m
9.8m he turns 31 next season.

I'd flip a 3rd for the guy in a heartbeat...maybe a second.

That has worked out swimmingly for them since Tim Couch.

I can see Denver making a trade for both guys...

I'd do it for a third as well. Second might be a touch steep, but Thomas is a guy you'd consider it for.

Yup. That's who'll do it.

Yes. The Browns have done a great job at selecting 1st rd QBs.

The Chiefs should do it just to keep them away from Denver.

They'll wait until we have a verbal agreement with Cleveland then swoop in and steal Thomas.

Tamai and 6rd pick

Is that Tamba hali missing some letters?

Then the midgets

Trade a 2nd for both

I'd do it.

Move Fisher to RT and Morse to RG.

Send a third to Cleveland for Thomas and send a sixth to Chicago for Alshon Jeffrey. Profit.

I approve of this deal.

A second for Thomas and Mack, a sixth for Alshon and we will probably win some games this year.

We can trade them CP QBOTF Chase Daniel for Joe Thomas! We will even ship them Alex Smith for Mack, just to groom Chase for the job.

:D

Wouldn't mind trading for Joe thomas, but morse is the center of the now and future. Thanks, but no thanks.

Now Vernon davis otoh

I'm thinking mack might work out at RG. But that's probably dumb.

You only need to get it right once. Then set for 10plus years.

I'd trade a second for Thomas straight up. Easy decision. Don't know why the Bears would take only a 6th for Alshon though.

VD hasn't been the same since smith left the 49ers.

This.


sigh.

2nd for Thomas? Yes please.

I'm not trading the future to bring in a 30 year old LT that might make the difference between getting pounded by the Patriots by 37 instead of 40.

This kind of trade is a win now move, and we ain't winning now.

he might be good in a reid offense

And why would you bring in Alshon Jeffery with Alex Smith at QB?

Jeffery and Maclin is a great duo.. no matter how you slice it.

Depends on the compensation. Being under contract until 2018 makes it interesting to me.

Yeah I would only do that move if it was really cheap or if I had intentions of giving a young QB more weapons. No matter how good, the #2 in an Alex Smith offense isn't going to get many targets. I would be very interested to see Albert Wilson with a good QB.

I could see Seattle trading for Mack. They need OL help bad.

I've said this before and I'll say it again.

Giving Alex Smith great receivers and a great ol is like giving a Lamborghini to Mr. Magoo. It's sad that the only reason people are reluctant to make this trade is they know it's basically putting lipstick on a pig.

So, it's better to not to try to improve the offense, because.. eff it?

You probably don't understand the concept of diminishing returns, do you.

We have one of the worst 5 offensive lines in the entire league. But because we have Alex Smith, we shouldn't try to improve it. Great logic bro.

Seattle should be all over Mack


trading their center to the Saints just killed them

This is all nonsense anyways because we know this team won't make any moves to try and improve now.

Adding a very good offensive lineman who can give us 4-5 years of good production is bad. We should stick with our bottom 5 Oline. CP logic.

Sadly, we are a team that will change the thing around the problem instead of fixing the problem itself. So if we make big trades to fix the OL for a QB who has no ****ing concept of how to use a better OL, what's the point? If these trades save the job of a guy who is the part of the problem, then what did we solve?

Don't expect logic from him


They said the same thing about Maclin and he is better than Bowe with Alex Smith. Now that our Oline has improved a little bit he should be even more productive.


It would be more logical to say "why trade for Jeffery with Andy Reid?"

Reid want's YAC guys to fit his lateral passing game.

You've gone all Gochief ...





never go all Gochiefs

Did someone really just suggest that the Bears would give up Alshon Jeffrey for a sixth round pick?

Is there a jenkum leak in your house?

Smith is more dependent on his offensive line than his skill guys, skill guys still being important.

They need to improve the offensive line for whoever plays qb so I don't understand why that's am issue

Making trades for 30 year old Olinemen are "win now" strategies that damage your long-term cap. So our strategy is to win now behind Alex Smith as the centerpiece? In a season where we have to literally be perfect to make a playoff run? **** that noise.

Smith is indecisive on everything other than the shortest throws. He doesn't see receivers down the deep middle part of the field at all and panics at the first hint of pressure.

He had an elite line in SF with a great TE and RB and all that team did was kick FGs.

The offensive line has given up 30+ sacks in 8 games. THAT. IS. A. PROBLEM.


Why are people trying to act like the offensive line is good or even average and that it's just Alex bringing them down? This is just idiotic.

zilla is 100% correct, but now anything outside of homerism is banned.

He has a very good manageable contract for the next 3 years. So how the hell does it damage our long term cap?

The problem with Alex Smith is he's dependent on a running game that will help him control clock, a defense that can close games for him, and now he's also dependent on WRs and OL as well? How many elite players do you have to put around him before you realize he's part of the problem? How do we possibly come up with the payroll to put 21 pro bowlers around him?

The poor OL performance is a function of both poor OL play and a QB who doesn't make his OL better. If you give Alex 2-3 more seconds to throw, do you think that's going to get him out of the habit of throwing to his checkdowns? He'll be the same damn QB but he'll take less sacks.

Homerism for a 3-5 team? Wut?

If we can improve a very important position on our team for the next 4-5 years, I'm all for it. Being against it is stupid.

Exactly this. Can't say this any better.

I'd love an offense that took less stats. Taking less stats is EXTREMELY beneficial for having good drives you know.

ROFL

Has anybody said Alex Smith isn't part of the problem? Quote please?

And no one has said that every player has to be a probowler. But improving one of the worst units in professional football is a smart thing to do.

I've made it pretty damn simple. I have two demands for Alex Smith, but now I'll add a third.

Convert third downs
Close games
And now my third... throw into the ****ing end zone

If you take less sacks but can't do any of those things, what ****ing good does it do? When Smith has all the time in the world, he still throws 2 yards on 3rd and 8. Alex Smith has had impressive comebacks where he plays aggressive, then becomes a different QB on the last drive and turtles up. Alex Smith has been decently impressive this year between the 20's then won't throw a single pass into the end zone.

So no, taking away a few sacks when the above is the big part of the problem, puts lipstick on the pig.

I could have sworn I've seen at least one article posted here that thought that was feasible.

Completely untrue.

This

I'd at least pick up the phone about Thomas. I mean he is a Hall of Fame LT who can likely give us 3-4 years. I wouldn't go trading away an early pick for him, but if the Browns want to let him go for a mid round pick I'd strongly consider it

Taking less sacks leads to easier 3rd downs which leads to a higher 3rd down percentage. Converting on more 3rd down leads to longer drives. Longer drives lead to more touchdowns. More touchdowns lead to more wins.

It's absolutely silly to say that taking less sacks wouldn't help this offense or any offense for that matter. When sacks knock you from 2nd and 6 to 3rd and 14, yes... drives will stall and the offense will suck. This isn't rocket surgery.

The team can't afford to trade picks for old veterans. Too many depth issues on defense.

Longer drives also helps keep the defense off the field. Taking less sacks helps the defense also.

**** you and your demands

If you're convinced he'll never be better, not matter how good the rest of the team is, AND you're convinced that the team sucks in other phases and areas simply because he's holding them back, AND you're convinced he'll never be better so there's not use in improving the team to see, **** your demands. You get to watch, the end.

She wants the team to implode so Clark will blow it up. Of course we know for certain now that this isn't happening anytime soon.

Look, I'm mostly with you if our plan was to build around a future QB. Or if I felt the changes will fix the QB itself. But we've been through this drill a million times before. We know that fixing around the problem will only lead to unending loyalty to the problem. And most of us know our QB well enough to know he's limiting the OL and WR just as much as they are limiting him.

So yeah, if this is part of a LT plan to change the plumbing, great. But if it's just putting bandaids on leaking pipes, I want no part of it.

I have been the biggest supporter of a true game management offense. I get the value of having a good game manager. Trust me, I've been a supporter of Eli where others have been down on him. I've also been very, very supportive of what Alex is TRYING to do.

Our third down conversion rate isn't going to improve appreciably if Alex insists on throwing 5 yards short of the sticks. Smith had an excellent OL in SF and his third down conversion rate there was also pretty bad. So how much do we think this is actually going to help him?

Gee, probably best to never find out.

I wonder whats more important.. A defensive depth player, who can MAYBE start 3-4 years down the road, or a hall of fame LT who WILL help fix our largest hole for the next 3-4 years?

Fixing a 60 sack season Offensive line is more important than a defensive depth player.

In a perfect world where you had unlimited payroll, sure. But if the Chiefs are going to stubbornly stick with Alex Smith, then I'd rather find ways for the defense to win games for him vs. giving him weapons he has no idea how to deal with.