Cleveland Browns–Miami Dolphins Trade History

Miami sent the third overall pick in the 1970 draft to Cleveland for All-Pro receiver Paul Warfield. The Browns selected quarterback Mike Phipps, who had uneven results and never became their long-term answer. Warfield became a centerpiece of Miami’s three straight Super Bowl teams, winning two championships and stretching defenses for the perfect 1972 club. Few trades show a larger gap between immediate star value and draft conversion.

Miami acquired linebacker Bob Matheson from Cleveland for a 1972 second-round selection that became No. 51 overall and Lester Sims. Matheson remained with the Dolphins through the decade, playing a specialized role on championship defenses and becoming associated with Miami's famed 53 defense. Cleveland's draft return never produced comparable value. A second-rounder was a meaningful price, but Miami's sustained payoff makes this a clear Dolphins win.

Miami traded veteran center Bob DeMarco to Cleveland on September 26, 1972 for the Browns' 1973 seventh-round choice, later used on Willie Hatter. Hatter never played an NFL regular-season game, while DeMarco became a Cleveland starter and made 27 starts across 1973 and 1974. The Browns therefore obtained substantially more direct football value from the exchange.

Cleveland sent its 1985 fourth-round selection, No. 91 overall, to Miami for receiver Duriel Harris. Harris started 11 games for the Browns in 1984 and caught 32 passes for 512 yards and two touchdowns. Miami used the pick on Mike Smith, whose NFL impact was limited, leaving Cleveland with the more substantial direct on-field return.

Miami sent Cleveland the 178th pick in the 1990 draft, which became Scott Galbraith, for a 1991 fifth-round choice that landed at No. 113. The Dolphins used that future pick on linebacker Bryan Cox. Cox became a three-time Pro Bowler and one of Miami's defensive leaders, turning a seventh-round investment into a major long-term return and giving the Dolphins a clear win.

Miami traded Gene Williams to Cleveland for the 1994 fourth-round pick used on Ronnie Woolfork. Williams immediately became a starting offensive lineman for the Browns, making 23 starts across his two Cleveland seasons. Woolfork, selected 112th overall, never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Cleveland clearly converted a modest draft cost into substantially more realized football value.

Miami traded running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar to Cleveland at the 1999 deadline for a 2000 sixth-round pick. Abdul-Jabbar had already produced three 1,000-yard seasons in Miami but was nearing the end of his career. Cleveland received only a short-term backfield option, while Miami used the pick on Ernest Grant, a defensive tackle who played 24 NFL games. Neither side generated major lasting value.

Cleveland acquired J.J. Johnson from Miami for a conditional 2004 draft pick that never conveyed. Johnson did not produce a Cleveland regular-season stat line after the trade, while Miami received no draft asset because the condition was not met. With neither side realizing lasting on-field or draft value, the exchange belongs near the bottom of the grading scale rather than being padded with theoretical pick value. The hindsight result is an even, low-impact trade.

Miami traded cornerback Travis Daniels to Cleveland for the 2009 seventh-round pick that became linebacker J.D. Folsom. Daniels appeared in seven games and made one start for the Browns in 2008, while Folsom played only two regular-season games for Miami as a rookie. Both returns were small, but Cleveland obtained the more substantial direct service from its acquired player. The Browns take a narrow low-level win, C-minus to D-minus.

Miami sent veteran receiver Davone Bess plus two later picks to Cleveland and received picks No. 104 and 164, which became linebacker Jelani Jenkins and running back Mike Gillislee. Jenkins developed into a multi-year Dolphins starter, giving Miami the best direct return. Bess lasted one season in Cleveland, while Armonty Bryant provided some defensive production. The Dolphins’ longer-lasting starting value creates the edge.

Miami sent cornerback Jamar Taylor and a late seventh-round pick to Cleveland for a slightly earlier seventh-round selection. The exact pick numbering differs across historical draft references because of forfeited-pick accounting, but the substance is simple: Cleveland acquired Taylor for almost no draft cost. He started 14 games and intercepted three passes in his first Browns season, while Miami gained little from the pick swap.

Cleveland acquired wide receiver Jarvis Landry from Miami for the No. 123 pick in 2018 and a 2019 seventh-round selection. Cleveland acquired Jarvis Landry and immediately extended him. Landry became a central part of the Browns' offensive rebuild and delivered four seasons of high-volume receiving and leadership. Miami turned the picks into Durham Smythe and Myles Gaskin, both useful contributors, so the Dolphins did receive real value. Landry's sustained impact and role in Cleveland's turnaround still give the Browns the edge.