The Cleveland Browns have agreed to trade defensive tackle Danny Shelton to the New England Patriots, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. The Browns will be receiving a 2019 third-round pick in return for Shelton. Cleveland will also be sending a 2018 fifth-round pick to the Patriots as well.
This will be the fourth trade Cleveland has agreed to in the past 24 hours. The Browns and Patriots have been talking about a Shelton trade the past two days, according to the MMQB’s Albert Breer. The trade cannot be made official until the new league year begins at 4 p.m. on March 14th.
A first-round pick in 2015, Shelton made 36 tackles in 2017, with tackles for a loss. In his three-year career, Shelton has only compiled 1.5 sacks. Shelton is known for being a run stuffer in the middle of the defensive line than being a pass rusher. He missed two games last year with a calf injury.
Shelton has one-year left on his rookie deal and the Patriots must decide if they they will accept his fifth-year option.
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When Shelton was drafted with the 12th overall pick in 2015, Cleveland was running a 3-4 base defense under Mike Pettine. Shelton was a natural fit in the defense as a nose tackle that clogged the middle of the line. But recently, the Browns have run more of a 4-3 defense, which is not the best fit for Shelton.
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According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Browns were shopping Shelton at the trade deadline last year. Knowing that he was not a fit for Cleveland’s scheme, they decided to continue shopping him this offseason.
Cleveland drafted defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi in the third-round last year and got good results from the rookie. Ogunjobi made 32 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack in 14 games played with one start. It is likely he will be the Browns starting defensive tackle in 2018.
After the trade of Shelton is official, Cleveland will have five defensive tackles on the roster: Ogunjobi, Trevon Coley, Caleb Brantley, Jamie Meder, and Jeremy Faulk.
Putting Joe Thomas aside, 2016 first-round pick Corey Coleman is the longest-tenured Cleveland first-round pick now that Shelton is traded.
