Browns defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. revved up trade speculation with a social media message.
Getty Images
Browns defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. revved up trade speculation with a social media message.
Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. fueled trade speculation on Monday after posting — and quickly deleting — a cryptic one-word message on social media.
Hall simply wrote “trade…” on X, offering no further explanation. It’s unclear whether the post was referring to himself or another player on the Browns’ roster. Veterans Maliek Collins and Shelby Harris have both been solid contributors and could also draw interest from teams looking to bolster their defensive front ahead of the trade deadline.
A trade involving Hall seems unlikely. The Browns invested a second-round pick in the former Ohio State standout during the 2024 draft, and he’s just nine games into his career. Hall missed time last year due to a suspension and has missed the first part of this season recovering from a knee injury.
With two years remaining on his rookie contract and a manageable cap hit, Hall remains a valuable developmental piece for Cleveland — one they’d likely move only for a significant return.
Cowboys Potential Suitor for Browns DT Michael Hall
A team that could potentially take a run at landing Hall is the Dallas Cowboys, who have been open about looking at pieces to add to their struggling defensive line.
Adding to the intrigue, around the same time Hall posted his message on social media, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said his team had a trade in place that would be announced on Tuesday.
“A lot of action going on right now in terms of trading. We certainly have made a trade and we may make a couple more trades before that deadline. We’ve made one. We possibly could make two more,” Jones said Monday. “Immediately, it will have them on the field, and it will address some of the things that have been our shortcomings.”
Hall is not a big name like Trey Hendrickson, Bradley Chubb or Maxx Crosby. He’s an interior lineman with upside but a very limited resume. But perhaps it’d be the splash Jones is looking for to bolster the struggling Cowboys defense.
Browns Plan to be ‘Buyers’ at Trade Deadline
The Browns may be 2-6, but they’re planning to be buyers at the trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Though Cleveland already has completed three trades in the past month — acquiring offensive tackle Cam Robinson, sending quarterback Joe Flacco to Cincinnati and swapping cornerbacks with Jacksonville — most sources believe that the Browns will be aggressive in acquiring players before the deadline,” Schefter reported Sunday.
Despite speculation around key veterans like tight end David Njoku and guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, the Browns are expected to keep their core intact. Instead, they’re targeting young, cost-controlled players who could help both now and in the future.
While wins have been hard to come by, Cleveland has seen encouraging development from several rookies — including linebacker Carson Schwesinger, running back Quinshon Judkins, tight end Harold Fannin Jr., and defensive tackle Mason Graham — all of whom look like building blocks for the franchise.
Rather than unloading talent for draft picks, the Browns appear focused on retooling around their youth and finding long-term answers at quarterback heading into next season.