Cleveland Browns–Washington Commanders Trade History

Cleveland acquired Don Paul from Washington for Johnny Carson and Dale Atkeson in August 1954. Paul later earned Pro Bowl selections in 1956 and 1957, giving the Browns the best player to emerge from the exchange. Washington did receive real production from Atkeson, who played 26 career games and started 18, so the result is a clear but not overwhelming Cleveland win.

Cleveland Browns received Sam Baker in the deal with Washington Commanders. Baker gave Cleveland two useful seasons handling kicking and punting duties. The Browns received legitimate special-teams value rather than a throwaway return. That outcome supports a B for Cleveland Browns. The Washington Commanders Win verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.

Cleveland traded defensive back Jim Wulff to Washington for a 1961 tenth-round draft choice. Cleveland used the acquired No. 129 selection on Wake Forest guard Wayne Wolff, who never appeared in a Browns regular-season game.

Cleveland acquired the rights to No. 1 overall pick Ernie Davis from Washington for star back Bobby Mitchell and the rights to Leroy Jackson. Davis was diagnosed with leukemia and tragically never played an NFL regular-season game. Mitchell became a Hall of Fame receiver in Washington, immediately leading the league in receiving yards in 1962 and remaining one of the franchise's defining stars of the decade.

Cleveland Browns received Dick Shiner and 1968 third round pick (#66-Reece Morrison) from Washington Commanders, sending Jim Ninowski the other way. Shiner was only a brief Browns contributor, but Morrison supplied several seasons of useful depth, while Ninowski had limited Washington impact, leaving Cleveland modestly ahead. That outcome supports a B grade for Cleveland Browns, and the overall verdict is Cleveland Browns Win.

On 1968-09-01, Cleveland Browns received Ron Snidow, while Washington received 1969 second round pick (#46-Eugene Epps), draft pick (undisclosed). The hindsight verdict is Washington Redskins/Commanders Win, with Cleveland Browns graded C and Washington graded C+. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while treating conditional terms and later draft outcomes as context rather than as assets exchanged directly on trade day.

Cleveland acquired the Saints' 1973 third-round selection, No. 54, a meaningfully stronger piece of draft capital than the assets it sent away. The pick later became part of the Rich Jackson transaction, illustrating the flexibility of the asset without turning Jackson into direct consideration here. Cleveland's incoming third-round value gives it the stronger side of this exchange.

Cleveland Browns received 1975 sixth round pick (#150-Charles Miller / Charlie Miller), while Washington received Paul Staroba. Cleveland sent Paul Staroba to Washington for the 1975 sixth-round choice used at No. 150 on Charles Miller, also known as Charlie Miller. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. Cleveland Browns earns a C grade, and the overall verdict is Cleveland Browns Win.

Cleveland Browns received 1979 twelfth round pick (#315-Dewitt Methvin / Dee Methvin) from Washington Commanders, sending Joe Jones (Turkey) the other way. Methvin did not deliver meaningful NFL value, while Washington obtained a veteran defensive end, so Washington receives the better hindsight grade after correcting Jones's nickname. That outcome supports a C- grade for Cleveland Browns, and the overall verdict is Washington Commanders Win.

Cleveland sent safety Tony Peters to Washington on August 17, 1979 for three draft choices: the 1980 fifth-rounder used on Laval Short, the 1981 fourth-rounder used on Mike Robinson, and Washington's 1981 tenth-rounder, probably Phil Kessel. Peters became a Pro Bowl safety and Super Bowl champion in Washington, while Cleveland's return produced only modest value. Washington earns an A- to Cleveland's C.

On 1981-01-01, Cleveland Browns received 1982 eighth round pick (#211-Bill Jackson), while Washington Commanders received 1981 tenth round pick (probably #257-Phil Kessel) and 1981 tenth round pick (#267-Allan Kennedy). The final verdict is Even Trade, with Cleveland Browns graded C and Washington Commanders graded C. The hindsight view follows the documented consideration and later traceable value without treating every named pick outcome as if it had been directly exchanged on trade day. Any conditional, undisclosed, or unidentified component is credited only to the extent that the surviving evidence establishes it.

Cleveland sent running back Earnest Byner to Washington in a straight player-for-player exchange for Mike Oliphant. Oliphant contributed mainly on special teams and carried only 15 times for 97 yards in his lone Browns season, while Byner went on to become a two-time Pro Bowler and championship back in Washington. The disparity makes this a costly Cleveland decision in hindsight.

Cleveland traded kicker Cade York to Washington on August 22, 2024 for a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick. The condition required York to remain on Washington's 53-man roster for two games. He was released after Week 1, so the pick was not conveyed and Cleveland ultimately received no draft asset from the transaction.