Trades we'd like to see: Browns' Joe Thomas to Giants for Jason Pierre-Paul, draft pick
As the NFL's trading deadline -- Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 4 p.m. ET -- approaches, we propose five explosive, albeit unlikely, possible deals.
Proposed trade No. 4:
Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas to New York Giants for defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and a fifth-round draft choice
Eli Manning has already won more Super Bowls (two) than his older brother Peyton (one), but he's looked a little frazzled recently playing behind, from left to right: Ereck Flowers, Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg,Geoff Schwartzand Marshall Newhouse.
That's about to change.
The timing of this is marvelously fortuitous. It would have been easy to send seven-year veteran Will Beatty -- the Giants' best offensive lineman -- to the Browns for the most consistent tackle in the game. Beatty, who is coming off a pectoral injury, hasn't taken any snaps this year but should be ready to play by Week 10. But we're going to go the extra yard(s) and send the unfortunate Pierre-Paul the Browns' way. He, too, is looking at a possible Week 10 return after his disastrous, hand-wrecking fireworks accident back on July 4. The Giants, clearly irked with the irresponsible behavior of their one-time franchise player, just signed him to a contract for this season that includes a low-rent base salary and is heavily laced with incentives.
Thomas, drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in 2007, has been voted to each of the eight Pro Bowls he's been eligible for. Problem is, the 6-foot-6, 312-pound security blanket has been protecting a ragged cast of no fewer than 16 quarterbacks, including Brady Quinn, Colt McCoy, Phil Dawson, Seneca Wallace, Thaddeus Lewis and Jason Campbell.
This year, Thomas' one-day Hall of Fame brilliance has seemed almost irrelevant. Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel already have been sacked 26 times in seven games and, meanwhile, the Browns' defense collectively has all of 12 sacks.
The disappointed Giants wonder if, without a complete right hand, JPP is reduced to the player who averaged just over four sacks in 2012 and '13. The Browns take the glass-half-full view, hoping that the 26-year-old can play going forward like he did in 2011 and 2014, when he produced 16.5 and 12.5 sacks, respectively.
When the Giants won those Super Bowls in 2007 and 2011, they did so with lethally effective offensive and defensive lines. The Giants have already invested in the front-line future, drafting Richburg in the 2014 second round and Flowers in last year's first round. This move locks down the offensive side and keeps Manning, 34, intact until the end of his effective playing days.
The funny thing? With extraordinarily sure-handed receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the imminent return of Victor Cruz, the Giants think they can win the undermanned NFC East.
New York has the most cap room (more than $13 million, thanks in part to JPP's inactivity) of any NFL team with a winning record, although 4-3 is probably pushing it. Thomas' typical salary-cap hit is about $10 million for 2015 and also the three remaining years of his contract.
Minnesota is another possible destination. In 2007 the Browns took Thomas ahead of Adrian Peterson, and it would be intriguing to see them working together. The Patriots, who lost Nate Solder for the season (biceps tear), are also in the market for a left tackle but -- as usual in recent years -- the Giants beat them to the punch.
