It's too bad the Cleveland Browns are actually competitive in 2026.
After trading Myles Garrett in the offseason, and honestly, after years of just being the Browns, few could have predicted a 5-3 record at the season's midpoint. Right now, the Browns sit at No. 8 in the AFC, which means they're officially outside the playoff picture if the season ended today. But it's not, and the team's cadre of young performers should bring real hope for a postseason push in December.
That's great for long-term Browns fans who could use some sunshine in northern Ohio this time of year. But it's bad news for teams like the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jerry Jeudy is not as available as he was supposed to be.
As the NFL's trade deadline nears on November 10, the Browns roster was supposed to be ripe for the picking for contending teams. The Browns have finished last (16 times) or next to last (5 times) in the AFC North in the last 23 seasons. Instead, their hopeful turn is likely going to keep some otherwise available players in-house to keep them competitive. That's a shame for the Chiefs' shopping list.
In particular, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy should be a key person of interest for general manager Brett Veach. The Chiefs have a serious need at wide receiver, with a long-term injury to Tyquan Thornton, doubts about Xavier Worthy's effectiveness, and questions about Rashee Rice's dependability. But the sexiest options on the open market are going to cost the most, and a team like the Chiefs has to think twice before giving up precious draft assets.
All of this is what made (or makes) Jeudy such an ideal trade target. The veteran receiver wasn't expected to command a significant return, since he's been edged out of looks in Cleveland by younger players—such as KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, and Harold Fannin Jr. That's not to say his veteran presence, leadership, and reliability aren't important to the team. It's just that there's a cap to that value.
But Jeudy is still playing a majority of offensive snaps in Todd Monken's 11-heavy personnel (66 percent of snaps over the last month), and the Browns have already paid heavy bonuses to employ him. Plus, Jeudy has embraced his less-productive role and remains an important clutch target at times for a team trying to instill some positive vibes for the future.
The Chiefs need to do something at WR
The Chiefs, as a contending team, should not be trotting out Andrew Armstrong, Jalen Royals, and Justin Watson for multiple weeks, especially for an offensive unit already playing with multiple backup linemen in front of Patrick Mahomes. K.C. needs trusted players who can immediately slot in and understand what's needed. That's where Jeudy can help.
Jeudy has only 16 catches for 171 yards so far this season, and he had just over 600 yards a year ago. But he's still only 27 years old and made the Pro Bowl as recently as 2024 with 90 catches for 1,229 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in his first season in Cleveland. The Chiefs front office should also have a robust profile of Jeudy already on hand after watching him catch passes with the Denver Broncos for four seasons.
Jeudy would give the Chiefs a plus route runner who can separate in intermediate levels alongside Rice and Travis Kelce. He's not a downfield threat like Thornton, but the Chiefs aren't going to find a way to replace that in the current trade market. But Jeudy is a very effective target from 10 to 20 yards with the speed to go vertical with a double move. He's also versatile enough to play outside and in, and his most effective season in Cleveland (the Pro Bowl year) featured two-thirds playing time on the boundary and one-third in the slot.
The rumored trade cost for Jeudy
As for what Jeudy might cost, Jordan Schultz said the asking price back in mid-October would be a third- or fourth-round pick. Jeremy Fowler also noted that he's not sure a fourth-round pick would move the meter for Cleveland. That doesn't mean the Browns will get it, however, when it's so clear that Jeudy's offensive importance has waned considerably.
Schultz's latest report also indicates that the Browns are "less likely" to consider a deal given the team's success. But perhaps the results of their Week 9 game against the New Orleans Saints could alter their posture. On the other side, ESPN's Adam Schefter listed Jeudy's name among wide receivers linked to the trade deadline earlier this week. In short, it's hard to tell.
The need to impress the Browns goes beyond their success
Unfortunately, Cleveland might not even care about a draft pick on day three. Not only is the Browns' surprising success deflating the likelihood of a trade, but the team's impressive quantity of selections in the 2027 NFL Draft is also working against K.C. The Browns already have 11 picks slated for their use over draft weekend, but a whopping seven of those choices are scheduled for the third round. Is Andrew Berry, the Browns' GM, really going to be swayed by another fifth-round pick?
The Chiefs are likely to have 10 picks in next year's draft themselves. They have their own fourth-round pick still in the quiver, and a compensatory pick in that round is projected due to the loss of Jaylen Watson in free agency (to the L.A. Rams). Perhaps that would make it easier for the Chiefs to consider trading an earlier day-three selection.
Would it be worth paying for Jeudy anyway?
An additional incentive for the Chiefs is the lack of financial impact on the books for 2026. The Browns already paid Jeudy most of what he's owed this year, so, for example, if the Chiefs swung a deal after Week 9 but before the trade deadline, they would owe the receiver only $750K for the year. In 2027, Jeudy is owed $17M but none of that is guaranteed. If the Chiefs like what they see, that's not a bad deal for a single season or an easy extension since he'll only be 28.
Much of the Chiefs' interest in Jeudy would likely come down to how they viewed him in Denver and how they track his usage and productivity in Cleveland. How much of Jeudy's slip in production is rooted in Cleveland's quarterback play? What's left in the tank?
The frustration in all of this is that the Browns actually look good—or at least better than they've been in the last few years. If Cleveland beats New Orleans in Week 9, they'll be 6-3 and even more motivated to keep the offense humming for the rest of the season. Veach has a lot to think about, but Jeudy's upside is real in several ways for the Chiefs.
Add us as a preferred source on Google