Cleveland is listening to a familiar name in the secondary. Veteran safety and core special-teamer Rayshawn Jenkins has surfaced in trade chatter again, months after a separate report linked him to potential movement out of Seattle. This time, it’s the Browns weighing options before the deadline—a reflection of Jenkins’ versatility and week-to-week reliability.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the Browns are open to trading Jenkins. The nine-year veteran has appeared in every game this season and logged 21 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, and one pass defensed. Notably, he currently leads the league in total special-teams tackles. This combination makes him an appealing plug-and-play pickup for contenders needing back-end depth plus immediate special-teams production.
On the field, Jenkins profiles as a steady third safety who can handle split-safety looks, rotate down into the box, and match up well against tight ends. He’s also a tone-setter on kick and punt units—showcasing lane discipline, dependable tackling, and an ability to finish plays in space.
For Cleveland, that multi-phase value has been a feature, not a footnote, especially while the secondary has been impacted by injuries and role adjustments. His market fits are straightforward: teams with playoff aspirations that have experienced coverage busts or tackling issues at the second level, or clubs recently hit by safety injuries.
Because Jenkins doesn’t require a scheme overhaul and contributes on fourth down, he can dress on game day immediately without disrupting defensive packages. The open question is price—whether Cleveland prefers late-round draft capital or a player-for-player swap that preserves roster balance.
Earlier this year, Jenkins’ name surfaced when Seattle permitted him to explore a trade, underscoring how his profile consistently draws interest. But the Browns’ calculus now is different: they’re managing in-season attrition while preserving flexibility for 2025, which is why listening doesn’t necessarily mean rushing to deal.
Hall of Famer Jared Allen’s recent commentary about Myles Garrett also lingers around any Browns discussion. After another monster individual performance went to waste in a loss, Allen bluntly noted that Garrett chose to re-sign in Cleveland and, with that, accepted the volatility that can come with it. It was a reminder that roster building—and decisions about moving pieces like Jenkins for future assets—happen against the backdrop of maximizing a star’s prime years.
If Cleveland ultimately moves Jenkins, the acquiring team gets a clean, playoff-ready upgrade in two phases. If not, the Browns keep a reliable veteran who helps them win hidden yards every week.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/browns-rumors-cleveland-open-trading-veteran-safety