The LA Chargers defeated the Cleveland Browns in a thorough routing in Week 9 that established the Chargers as a true playoff contender and ended any far-fetched hopes the Browns had about turning the season around.
This result could have big implications on the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 5. With a win, the Chargers may have locked themselves in as sellers. More importantly, the Chargers may have pushed the Browns into being true sellers.
If Cleveland does end up shopping its players at the deadline there are two players who should be of interest to Los Angeles. These players very well could be on the block, and both would make a ton of sense on the Chargers.
David Njoku and Greg Newsome II would fit well on the Chargers if the Browns are trade-deadline sellers
Lopsided outcome aside, there are talented players on the Browns who would be of service to the Chargers. David Njoku and Greg Newsome II could both be shopped by the Browns and would improve the Chargers in different ways.
Njoku would give Justin Herbert a dynamic pass-catching threat without adding to the wide receiver room. Fans have been clamoring for more passing weapons all season and while Njoku is not a wide receiver, he still fits that billing.
The wide receiver trade market is underwhelming and when it is at full strength, the Chargers may not need to add a wideout. Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnson, Joshua Palmer and DJ Chark Jr. isn't an elite top-four, but it is good enough to get the job done. It wouldn't really make sense to add a middle-of-the-road weapon to that group and with no top-tier pass catchers available, a wide receiver trade may not make sense.
Njoku would bolster one of the thinnest positions on the roster while also giving the Chargers a rollover weapon for the 2025 season. Njoku has one more year under contract and would carry a miniscule cap hit of under $5 million.
Newsome, meanwhile, would allow the Chargers to bolster an area of strength. Jesse Minter's defense has been exceptional this season even while dealing with secondary injuries. As well as the secondary has played, the team would benefit from adding another cornerback with Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton dealing with injuries.
Like Njoku, Newsome would also have the added benefit of giving the Chargers someone to bolster the depth next year as well. With Samuel and Fulton both on expiring contracts, this added benefit would be huge for the Bolts.
Neither player should cost anything more than a conditional fourth-round pick and would give the Chargers a cheap way to improve the roster for the present and the future.
After beating them into being sellers in Week 9, the Chargers should follow up with an inquiry on Njoku and Newsome.