The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants trade talks have been a hot topic around the water cooler over the last few days. Friday the two teams agreed to make a deal when the NFL league year begins March 13.
It’s not the trade everyone in Cleveland is hoping for involving wide receiver Odell Beckham. At least not at this time.
Full details of the deal …
Browns get: LB Olivier Vernon, 2019 fourth-round pick (132).
Giants get: OG Kevin Zeitler, 2019 fifth-round pick (155). https://t.co/ESlPR8yRYt— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 8, 2019
The Browns are sending starting right guard Kevin Zeitler to the Giants. In return, New York is shipping linebacker Olivier Vernon to Cleveland. The teams will also swap picks in April’s NFL draft. Cleveland gets the Giants fourth round pick, number 132. New York gets the Browns fifth round pick, number 155. The Browns now have two picks in rounds three, four and five.
Updated 2019 #Browns NFL Draft picks
Round 1: No. 17
Round 2: No. 49
Round 3: No. 80
Round 3: No. 95 (NE Shelton)
Round 4: No. 119
Round 4: No. 132 (NYG Zeitler/Vernon)
Round 5: No. 144 (Jax Hyde)
Round 5: No. 170 (NE Gordon)
Round 6: No. 189
Round 7: No. 221 (Jax Kessler)— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) March 8, 2019
Vernon will serve as a pass rushing linebacker the Browns have been in need of. Vernon will step in and replace Jamie Collins. Cleveland released Collins on Wednesday.
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All-Pro vs All-Pro: Olivier Vernon goes speed bull vs Jason Peters. Violent hat & hands sends Peters backwards. After Peters recovers, Vernon finishes with a club/arm over! #PassRush #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/Rs4G3iNV5P
— DLineVids (@DLineVids) October 12, 2018
The addition of Vernon means the Browns will have a pair of top 15 edge pass rushers from the 2018 season. Myles Garrett and Vernon ranked 13 and 14 respectively.
The Browns now have last season's 13th and 14th highest-graded edge defenders on roster. pic.twitter.com/kNqgzDBa3Z
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) March 8, 2019
Trading Zeitler away opens up the right guard spot for 2018 second round pick Austin Corbett. Zeitler will be a huge upgrade for a Giants offensive line and will open holes for offensive rookie of the year Saquon Barkley.
Vernon has two years remaining on his current contract. As a result, Vernon will be off the Browns books right when Garrett’s fifth year option on his rookie contract takes place. It also opens up money to re-sign Larry Ogunjobi when his contract expires following the 2020 season.
All in all this appears to be a good deal for all parties involved. Of course only time will tell.
Scott Piker is the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage.com. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport
