With the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis underway, the Cleveland Browns are reportedly requesting a major change.
Speaking to reporters in Indianapolis, Browns general manager Andrew Berry confirmed that the team has issued a proposal for the league to push back its annual trade deadline by at least two weeks.
“As a league, it makes sense to give teams the most flexibility,” Berry said according to The Athletic’s Zac Jackson. “Moving it back (two weeks), we felt that was the sweet spot.”
Currently, the NFL trade deadline occurs in the week in between Week 8 and Week 9 in the league’s schedule. Per the Browns’ proposal, the deadline would move to the week in between Weeks 10 and 11.
According to Berry, the Browns studied multiple leagues, including the NBA, MLB and NHL in forming their proposal. The biggest driver in Cleveland’s request is that despite the NFL schedule expanding to 17 games (and 18 total weeks) in 2021, the trade deadline has remained in the same spot it previously was, which is no longer the midway point of the league’s schedule.
Under the Browns’ proposal, the deadline would come with 55 percent of the season having been completed, which would help account for its delayed implementation.
“(That number) helps maintain the competitive integrity of the season so you don’t have a player getting dumped late in the year,” Berry said.
Should the Browns’ proposal gain enough momentum across the rest of the league, it will then be voted on by the league’s owners at next month’s annual league meeting.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.