After a 3-14 season, the Cleveland Browns went heavy in the free agency and draft this offseason. Now, five weeks into the new season, the Browns are still one of the worst teams this season with a 1-4 start. After moving his QB1 Joe Flacco out of Cleveland, head coach Kevin Stefanski is still experimenting with his roster. And if his recent roster move is anything to go by, it is safe to say the Browns’ HC is losing his trust in the current roster, especially the veterans.

According to insider Adam Schefter, the Browns have made pretty much every single veteran available for trade. “David Njoku, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, and more Browns veterans all listed as potential trade candidates, per league executives and coaches via Adam Schefter,” ESPN posted on X, sharing Schefter’s report.

Fresh off sending veteran QB Joe Flacco to the Bengals, it looks like Cleveland has thrown in the towel on 2025. It’s as The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported, “Some around the league believe the Browns moving on signaled that they’ve given up on the season.” But if Stefanski really has decided to punt on this season, this is the logical play. You trade your aging vets, stack up draft picks, and try to reset before things get worse. It’s painful, but what if it is the only way forward?

The first name that jumps out is David Njoku, who is in the final year of his deal. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin has flashed enough potential to make Njoku expendable. Odds are he’ll be catching passes somewhere else before long. Trading Njoku would also mean losing one of the few offensive leaders left on a team already short on veteran voices. But Stefanski’s system has often relied on tight ends, and inconsistency at quarterback has made even key pieces like Njoku tradable.

Then there’s Wyatt Teller, who has been a rock at right guard since the Baker Mayfield days, but he’s set to hit free agency after this season. He’ll turn 31 in November, and with the Browns in youth-movement mode, keeping him long-term probably doesn’t fit the plan. But if they lose him, they risk losing pretty much their entire starting O-line next year to free agency or retirement.

As for Joel Bitonio, his retirement plan at the end of this season is no secret. So trading him now would feel cold, even by the Browns’ standards. Fans would love to see him finish his career in orange and brown, but Cleveland has never been a franchise that lets sentiment get in the way of business. They’ve already started the fire sale by shipping off Joe Flacco to the Bengals.

Running back Jerome Ford could also be on the move. The Browns restructured his deal this offseason after drafting Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, signaling that his role might shrink. Ford has remained a solid pass protector and special-teams contributor, but with the youth movement underway, a late-round pick could tempt the front office to move him.

Joe Flacco trade makes Shedeur Sanders QB2

What was one of the deepest quarterback rooms in football during the offseason is now down to two rookies holding the fort. And maybe, just maybe, the future. Among them, one name keeps popping up a lot more frequently than the other: Shedeur Sanders, who just got handed the QB2 spot.

Except, even that move hasn’t been as straightforward as it sounds. Following the Flacco trade, Stefanski declined to confirm his depth chart behind rookie starter Dillon Gabriel, saying on Wednesday that he’s “still working through things” after what he admitted was an unforeseen trade. “I always have to be mindful of our players and our players’ development,” Stefanski said. “I want to make sure I’m always doing what’s best for our players and, of course, our team. But with young players, you have to think long and hard about that.”

Stefanski hinted that veteran Bailey Zappe could be elevated from the practice squad as insurance, calling him “the elder statesman” of the group. Still, with only Gabriel and Sanders currently on the active roster, Sanders’ promotion feels inevitable. “It’s a young quarterback room, but I believe in those guys,” Stefanski added. “I’m very, very invested in our player development, our young players’ development, our quarterback development.”

Sanders has been gunning for that QB1 spot since he got here. He started as QB4, patiently waited his turn, watched Kenny Pickett get sent to Vegas, and then Flacco was shipped off to Cincinnati after a couple of rough outings. Now the lane’s finally open. If there was ever a window to take over, this is it.

So far, Gabriel’s been solid: three touchdowns and zero picks. But he’s also been way too safe. The kind of quarterback who keeps you in games but doesn’t make anyone believe you can win them. The moment he throws a couple of bad picks or lays an egg in a half, Browns Twitter (and probably the stadium) is going to explode with Sanders chants.

The Browns haven’t scored more than 17 points in ten straight games dating back to last December, another reason why fans are clamoring for change. If Gabriel’s play remains steady but uninspiring, Stefanski could be forced to test Sanders sooner than planned, especially as the Browns slide further out of playoff contention.

And eventually, Stefanski might just cave to the noise. There’s nothing left to lose if they plan to throw in the towel.