Cleveland traded former first-round offensive lineman Cam…
Cleveland traded former first-round offensive lineman Cam Erving to Kansas City on August 30, 2017 for a 2018 fifth-round pick. That selection became No. 159 and was later included in the Browns' Danny Shelton trade with New England rather than used directly by Cleveland. The Browns recovered movable draft value from a player who had not justified his original draft status.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 2018 5th round pick (159th overall; later included in Danny Shelton trade to New England)
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- player Cam Erving
Trade Analysis
Why Cleveland Moved On
Cam Erving had been the 19th overall pick in the 2015 draft, but Cleveland chose to move him after two seasons. The Browns accepted Kansas City's 2018 fifth-round selection, No. 159 overall, converting a disappointing former first-rounder into future draft capital. That was a sensible recovery move even if it could not erase the original draft investment.
Erving Finds a Role
Kansas City received much more use from Erving than a typical fifth-round trade acquisition. He appeared in 13 games and started four in 2017, then started 13 games in 2018 and eight more in 2019. Across three Chiefs seasons, Erving played 40 regular-season games and made 25 starts while offering flexibility across the offensive line.
What Cleveland Did With the Pick
The Browns did not simply select the player eventually taken at No. 159. Cleveland later packaged the acquired fifth-round choice with defensive tackle Danny Shelton in a trade with New England. The pick therefore retained transaction value for the Browns, but its downstream benefit is less direct than Erving's actual snaps and starts for Kansas City.
Value Against Cost
Kansas City paid a modest price for a lineman who became a frequent starter. Cleveland deserves credit for extracting an asset from a player it was ready to replace, but the Chiefs received the clearer on-field return.
Final Verdict
Kansas City Chiefs Win. Kansas City earns a B because a fifth-round price produced 40 games and 25 starts of offensive-line service. Cleveland earns a B-minus for recovering useful trade capital and later redeploying the pick, but the Browns' return was less direct than the Chiefs' multi-season starting production.
Kansas City received 40 games and 25 starts from Cam Erving, while Cleveland preserved value by folding the acquired fifth-round selection into the later Danny Shelton transaction.