NFL Rumors: Cleveland Browns want second-round pick for Joe Thomas

The Cleveland Browns may be open to trading some veterans over the next week of so, but they clearly aren’t going to give away Joe Thomas.

The Cleveland Browns’ new front office wants to stockpile draft picks, and they have a few veteran players that could be trade targets for contending teams ahead of this year’s trade deadline. Trade rumors surrounded All-Pro offensive tackle Joe Thomas a year ago at this time, with a deal reportedly nearly happening with the Denver Broncos, and that talk has resurfaced now.

According to Pro Football Talk, Thomas is the subject of trade rumors again. If he’s really on the trade block the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants are specifically mentioned by Mike Florio as potential suitors with a need at left tackle. The Broncos apparently balked at the asking price for Thomas last year, but that apparent high asking price seems to not have changed much on Cleveland’s end now.

During Florio’s appearance on NBC’s Football Night in America Sunday night, he offered this nugget.

Thomas is the prototype for the kind of veteran player the Browns are generally looking to unload, nearing 32 years old (Dec. 4) and with two more years on his contract after this one. It’s perfectly fine to place a high trade premium on Thomas, since he still plays a premium position at a very high level, but wanting a second-round pick for him slightly contradicts any potential desire to move him.

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There should be no shortage of interest in Thomas, assuming the Browns are seriously taking calls on him. A landing spot we don’t expect could easily come, as some of the better-run organizations around the league may see an opportunity to take advantage of Cleveland’s front office with a “take it or leave it” offer.