TradeVerdicts records 6 trades between
Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints across 1968–2020. Historical
franchise identities are normalized to the current franchises here,
while each underlying trade keeps its own sourced date, assets,
grades, and verdict.
This page includes every public TradeVerdicts record in which both
current franchises participate. Multi-team trades remain in the
chronology when both clubs are part of the transaction.
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Complete Matchup Chronology
6 Recorded Trades
Oldest to newest
Trade 1
August 9, 1968
Cleveland Browns Win
Cleveland BrownsB+
New Orleans SaintsB
Cleveland Browns received
1970 second round pick (#36-Joe Jones)
New Orleans Saints received
Johnny Brewer
Cleveland converted veteran linebacker Johnny Brewer into a 1970 second-round pick, No. 36 overall, that became defensive end Joe “Turkey” Jones. Brewer still gave New Orleans 37 games and 31 starts from 1968 through 1970, so the Saints received real short-term value. Jones, however, developed into a 134-game NFL defender, giving Cleveland the stronger long-range return and the win.
New Orleans acquired veteran receiver Fair Hooker from Cleveland for Jubilee Dunbar, also listed as Allen Dunbar. Dunbar appeared in five games for the Browns in 1974 and caught six passes for 74 yards. Hooker did not produce a Saints regular-season appearance after the move, so Cleveland receives a narrow edge from the limited direct value.
New Orleans sent cornerback Reggie Jones to Cleveland in October 1994 for a future fifth-round pick. The selection became No. 136 in 1996, which the Saints used on Michigan receiver Mercury Hayes. Hayes played 11 games for New Orleans across 1996 and 1997 and caught four passes for 101 yards. The return was small, but it produced more Saints value than Jones produced for Cleveland.
New Orleans sent the 34th pick to Cleveland and received center Jeff Faine and No. 43, which became safety Roman Harper. Faine immediately stabilized the Saints' offensive line, while Harper became a two-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl XLIV champion and long-time defensive leader. Cleveland used No. 34 on linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who developed into a tackling machine and franchise cornerstone, making this a genuine win-win exchange.
Cleveland acquired defensive tackle Devaroe Lawrence from New Orleans for a 2019 seventh-round pick. Lawrence gave the Browns 12 regular-season appearances across 2018 and 2019, including two starts, eight tackles and a fumble recovery in 2019. The surrendered pick became No. 231 and New Orleans used it on Alize Mack, who never produced a regular-season appearance for the Saints. Cleveland realized the clearer return.
New Orleans moved up to No. 74 for linebacker Zack Baun and also received pick No. 244, while Cleveland acquired No. 88 and a 2021 third-rounder. Baun never became a full-time defensive centerpiece during four Saints seasons, and his later All-Pro breakthrough came after he left for Philadelphia. Cleveland received useful snaps from Jordan Elliott, but Anthony Schwartz added little, leaving the direct results close.
