A report in the Akron Beacon Journal states that Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey is interested in trading for Tampa Bay’s six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. The Browns have been making some bold moves this offseason trying to get to the playoffs, including trading for Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. Acquiring a veteran defensive tackle like McCoy could be the next one.
The Browns have a surplus of running backs after drafting Nick Chubb in the second round last year and acquiring the league’s 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Kareem Hunt this offseason, which was another bold move considering that he was released by Kansas City last November after video of him assaulting a woman surfaced. The running back that may be on the way out is Duke Johnson, who averaged 5.0 yards per carry last year with 40 carries for 201 yards. 299 carries for 1,286 yards (4.3 avg.) and five touchdowns since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2015.
Johnson wants an opportunity for more touches and won’t get that behind Chubb and Hunt. In addition to clearing $13 million worth of salary cap room by getting rid of McCoy’s salary, Bucs would like to bolster their backfield and have the need for a pass-catching running back, and may pursue a player-for-player swap by sending the 31-year old McCoy, who has posted six sacks in each of the last two years, to Cleveland in exchange for the 25-year old Johnson.
Johnson is also an accomplished receiver out of the backfield with 47 catches for 429 yards (9.3 avg.) and three touchdowns last year. The Miami product has 235 passes for 2,170 yards (9.2 avg.) and eight touchdowns in his four-year Browns career.