The NFL trade deadline is less than a week away and phones are ringing around the league.

In the AFC, there’s a specific deal that makes sense for both sides. The Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns are tending in different directions right now, but they would be smart to strike a deal that works for both of them.

Now, before getting to the deal I want to pound the table that this is indeed a trade idea. I haven’t heard talks taking place or anything of that sort. Here it is …

Titans acquire:

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones

2024 Fourth-round draft pick

2025 Seventh-round draft pick

Browns acquire:

RB Derrick Henry

Why the Browns do this?

Cleveland’s offense has struggled mightily in 2023 while the defense has done the opposite. The Browns have an issue at quarterback with the health of Deshaun Watson and even when he’s been on the field, it has not gone all that well. Running back Nick Chubb went down for the season and he was much of the offense, it has not been the same.

Insert Henry, who gives you another player you can lean on, just like the Browns with Chubb. What the Browns have to give up is worth it for a rental for the rest of the season.

Donovan Peoples-Jones has taken a step back in Cleveland this season. After recording 839 receiving yards in 2022, Peoples-Jones has just 97 this season. Out of those 97 receiving yards, 49 of them came against the Titans in the Browns’ Week 3 win.

The Browns are riding Elijah Moore as the second option this season over DPJ. It is a contract year for Peoples-Jones, so the browns very well could be losing him at the end of the season anyway. After being a sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2020, Peoples-Jones has taken a step forward each of the past three seasons.

With Henry, you could put Jerome Ford into the second running back role to create a strong unit once again. You would still have Kareem Hunt too, as a third option.

Why the Titans do this?

Henry is a fan favorite in Tennessee and has been the best player on the team for years now. Unfortunately, the Titans have to look forward to the future and it shouldn’t contain him.

Since Henry is a free agent at the end of the season, it makes sense for the Titans to gain assets in a trade rather than losing him to free agency for nothing. Henry will be 30 years old in a couple of months. The All-Pro is one of the players at running back that the league is going to have to take a look at paying, even if the recent shift in paying running backs has changed.

The Titans don’t have a ton of talent at wide receiver past DeAndre Hopkins. Treylon Burks has not shown a ton yet and is injured, this is where you insert Peoples-Jones. One thing that Peoples-Jones does well is make contested catches, much of that has to do with his not-so-great ability to separate. Still, DPJ has proven he can be a starter in the NFL and could be a piece for the Titans going forward. At just 24 years old, his best days should be ahead of him.

Additionally, the Titans pick up a solid draft pick, as well as a late-round flyer. Tennessee isn’t getting a first round pick for Henry, that’s a long shot. So with these picks and player, they recoup some draft ammunition before letting Henry become a free agent, where it may not make sense to franchise tag him with the direction of the team.

Conclusion

Going away, it is a deal that makes sense for both teams that have already faced off this season. Henry won’t be playing against the Titans this season, they wouldn’t have to worry about that. It gives the Browns an offensive piece to lean on outside of wide receiver Amari Cooper.

With the trade deadline on Halloween, we are just days away from finding out if King Henry is moved. 

One suggests Browns trade for Titans All-Pro RB Derrick Henry

This would be a splash move by the Browns.