Browns trade Cam Erving to Chiefs for 2018 pick
By Joe Romano
The Cleveland Browns continue to move some pieces around prior to the start of the regular season. The team announced that they traded offensive lineman Cam Erving to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cam Erving is two years removed from being a first round pick for the Cleveland Browns. That did not stop the team from accepting a fifth-round pick from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Erving was a promising prospect out of Florida State when Cleveland took him 19th overall in 2015. A converted defensive lineman, Erving became a second-team All-American in his first full season at left tackle for the Seminoles. Injuries along the line caused him to make the switch to center in his final season in Tallahassee.
This positional versatility was one of the most appealing pieces of Erving’s game coming into the NFL. The Browns plugged him in at guard next to All-Pro center Alex Mack. The following season Mack left as a free agent and Cleveland planned on Erving being their center of the future.
Unfortunately this was not the case. Erving had a disappointing 2016 season. He started in 13 games for the team.
The Browns bolstered their offensive line this off-season signing veteran guard Kevin Zeitler and center JC Tretter. The writing was on the wall for Erving’s departure from the team.
Kansas City will bring in the 25 year old to compete along their offensive line. Their young line showed promise towards the end of last season. Their is a small hole at guard that Erving could potentially fill, should he find his form again. The Chiefs locked up their other guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif this off-season.
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Erving may become a rotational lineman for the Chiefs, who are showing that they are not afraid to move some draft capital. Kansas City made a bold move in the draft to go get Patrick Mahomes as their quarterback of the future. They also acquired Bills’ cast-off linebacker Reggie Ragland last week. Erving and Ragland, both former top 50 picks, will look to revitalize their short careers in Kansas City.