CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from Jan. 20, 2021.
The NFL's legal tampering period is now a week away, but free agency won't be the only way the Cleveland Browns look to improve their roster. With that in mind, let's take a look at five defensive ends the Browns could target on the trade market in the weeks ahead.
Marcus Davenport (New Orleans Saints)
New Orleans' crowded cap situation will lead to some tough decisions for the Saints this offseason and could result in them letting some key players walk. It could also force New Orleans to either decline Marcus Davenport's fifth-year option or shop the 2018 first-round pick.
With two years of team control remaining on his deal, the 24-year-old would become highly sought after should he become available. After ranking as Pro Football Focus' No. 20 edge defender in 2020, Davenport could make for an ideal long-term replacement for Olivier Vernon, who is set to hit free agency after suffering a torn Achilles.
Brandon Graham (Philadelphia Eagles)
A 32-year-old laying claim to a $13 million salary hardly fits the profile of the type of player the Browns' front office often targets. But after ranking as PFF's No. 10 edge rusher in 2020, Brandon Graham played well enough that he could be worth the one-year rental.
Josh Sweat (Philadelphia Eagles)
With a plethora of pass-rushers on their roster, the Eagles might make for the most obvious trade partner at the position. Entering the final season of his contract, Josh Sweat is significantly younger than Graham and has performed as a high-level pass-rusher since entering the NFL in 2018.
Derek Barnett (Philadelphia Eagles)
Derek Barnett didn't perform as highly as his teammates Graham and Sweat did in 2020, but he's not far behind. Selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the 24-year-old is entering the final season of his rookie contract and could become available if Philadelphia opts against signing him to a long-term extension.
Da'Shawn Hand (Detroit Lions)
While he isn't as accomplished as the other players on this list, Da'Shawn Hand could fit the profile of what the Browns' front office is searching for. A former 5-star recruit, the 25-year-old Hand possesses plenty of upside, as well as the versatility to play multiple positions on the defensive line.
Entering the final year of his contract on a team at the apparent start of a rebuild, it would be less than surprising if Detroit was willing to listen to calls for Hand. And while his name might not carry the same buzz it did as a recruit, he could prove to be an underrated acquisition.