3 trade destinations for Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap

1. Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett leads the league in sacks with nine entering Week 8. But Olivier Vernon (zero sacks) and Adrian Clayborn (two sacks) have not made much impact opposite him, which hasn’t helped a struggling and injury-thinned secondary (288.1 passing yards allowed per game; 30th in the league).

The Browns seemed to recognize their need for another edge rusher during the offseason, with rumored interest in Jadeveon Clowney and Everson Griffen. The possibility of a trade for Griffen went away almost as fast as it came, with the Detroit Lions swinging a deal for him quickly after the Dallas Cowboys made him available this week.

With just over $31 million in cap space (the most in the league), the 5-2 Browns can take on money to address needs (defensive end, safety, wide receiver?). Cutting bait with Dunlap during the offseason if it doesn’t work would not be punitive in terms of dead money ($2.25 million).

The Browns have seen Dunlap twice this season, including Week 7 when he was hardly used as he’s seemingly on his way out the door in Cincinnati. But they can literally “look at the tape” from Week 2, when he still only played 30 snaps as a sign of things to come, to see if they think Dunlap has anything left.