Bad news for Browns fans: NFL analyst Tom Pelissero talks trade deadline, quarterback changes and schedule challenges

NFL expert Tom Pelissero joined The Rich Eisen Show this week and made it clear: no team is being talked about more in front offices than the Cleveland Browns. “The team I hear the most about right now is Cleveland — what is the Browns’ plan here?” He added that the franchise has been “ineffective offensively to this point,” despite having a veteran presence under center. The Browns have started the season poorly, falling to 0-2 with a narrow loss to the Bengals and a blowout defeat to the Ravens.

For Pelissero, the focus is on Joe Flacco. At 40, the former Super Bowl MVP has brought stability, but Pelissero questioned how far he can take this team. “He certainly can operate the offense, but it’s not operated at a particularly high level. [Running back] Quinshon Judkins just got back, and who knows how long he’ll be able to stay on the field,” Pelissero said.

Concerns over the Browns’ offense

The passing game remains another concern. Jerry Jeudy is the top receiver, but beyond him, consistent playmaking has been hard to find. Pelissero put it bluntly: “Where else is the playmaking coming from here?” He also noted the Browns have drafted two quarterbacks who are now just biding their time.

Pelissero emphasized that this isn’t about blowing up the roster now, but about league insiders watching closely as the weeks roll on.

Browns’ tough schedule

Their schedule doesn’t make things easier. They face the Packers at home, then travel to Detroit, before the challenge of flying to London to play the Vikings — with those international games particularly difficult to navigate.

With the trade cutoff coming November 5, Pelissero said many in the league are wondering if the Browns could eventually “look to sell if things go badly.”

He admitted that, of course, they could go out and “stun the Packers on Sunday, but failing that they are going to be an 0-3 team. At what point do they change quarterback, and at what point do they become sellers?” Pelissero said.

In a division where Baltimore already looks strong and Pittsburgh remains competitive, Cleveland’s margin for error is paper-thin. The Browns are under the microscope — and the coming weeks could determine whether they fight back or become one of the headline stories of this year’s trade deadline.

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