In this daily series, we will look at every free agent which is set to be over 800 this offseason. Unrestricted free agents that are set to hit the market on the 10th of March at noon ET, this is when players can begin negotiating with the other 31 team. Despite this, many deals will be negotiated before that time, with the combine seen as the kick-off of the unofficial tampering period. There will be some that don’t make it there due to either being franchise tagged before the 4 pm ET deadline on the 4th of March or being extended by their current team.
Before anyone throws their toys out of the pram and moans why are we covering “X” position when we don’t need a player there, it is important to look at every area of a roster as what you can get in free agency easily shapes what you do with extensions, trades, and the draft.
A team like the Cleveland Browns is using free agency and trades to fill any starting spots on the roster as they are competing to win now and not looking to develop a starter as the season goes along. They are going to use their backup and depth spots to develop starters for the future, so when Andrew Berry is making draft picks later in the offseason keep an eye on who they might replace in 2026.
We will be discussing all the unrestricted free agent names across all the different positions and explaining why we believe players are targets or not and some that are in the grey area that intrigues us. Players who are restricted free agents and exclusive free agents are listed but we won’t spend much time on them because they are unlikely to make it to free agency, this is because they regularly return and this shouldn’t be a focus.
Series So Far
How this series will be written is we will look at all the position rooms for the Cleveland Browns first to see what they need in free agency and if they have any players currently they will look to keep or cut: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks, Safeties & Special Teams.
Then the depth/special teams options in free agents: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.
Then we will move to the rotational/backup players releasing these day by day: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.
We will then finish with the starting quality players day by day: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks, Safeties & Special Teams.
The final free agency cheat sheet will then be published on the 1st of March.
For OBR VIP subscribers there will be additional free agency content, starting the week commencing the 27th of Jan:
On Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays we will take a look at building my free agency cheat sheet before it is published for others to see in March: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.
On Tuesday and Thursdays we will publish a set of VIP articles where the OBR team will all add what they would do this offseason position room by position room: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks, Safeties & Special Teams.
Previous Position Room
We will start by looking at how Andrew Berry’s position room has been built to start the season each year:
2020 – Sendejo, Joseph, Harrison, Redwine
2021 – Johnson, Delpit, Harrison, Stewart, LeCounte
2022 – Johnson, Delpit, Harrison, LeCounte, Bell
2023 – Thonhill, Delpit, McLeod, Bell, Hickman
2024 – Thornhill, Delpit, McLeod, Hickman, Bell
Cash Spending Per Year
2020 – $9,336,136
2021 – $18,512,058
2022 – $14,811,142
2023 – $17,360,463
2024 – $16,052,500
Current Contracts
Juan Thornhill
2024 – $7,000,000 (fully guaranteed)
2025 – $7,000,000 (no guarantees)
Grant Delpit
2024 – $6,000,000 (fully guaranteed)
2025 – $12,000,000 (fully guaranteed)
2026 – $12,000,000 (no guarantees)
Rodney McLeod
2024 – $1,152,500 ($767,500 guaranteed)
2025 – Unrestricted Free Agent
D’Anthony Bell
2024 – $985,000 (no guarantees)
2025 – Restricted Free Agent
2026 – Unrestricted Free Agent
Ronnie Hickman
2024 – $915,000 (no guarantees)
2025 – $1,030,000 (no guarantees)
2026 – Restricted Free Agent
2027 – Unrestricted Free Agent
Christopher Edmonds
2024 – $795,000 (no guarantees)
2025 – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
2026 – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
2027 – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
2028 – Restricted Free Agent
2029 – Unrestricted Free Agent
Trey Dean
2024 – Practice Squad
2025 – $840,000 (no guarantees)
2026 – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
2027 – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
2028 – Restricted Free Agent
2029 – Unrestricted Free Agent
Snap Counts
Here is a look at the snap counts for the position room so far this season
How Many In 2025
The Cleveland Browns are likely to head into the 2025 season with five safeties on the final 53-man roster and one on the practice squad. The only exception for this would be if they didn’t have a special teams linebacker like Bell and find someone elsewhere to take those snaps.
With how Andrew Berry and smart teams operate they will want to have at least six roster worthy players entering training camp so that if there is an injury they have an extra bodies in the mix. At the same time there is competition so that players aren’t entering training camp knowing they have their spot unless some unknown UDFA beats them out.
Here is a look at the week one roster for each year Andrew Berry has been the General Manager of the Cleveland Browns.
Roster Status
Below is the current Cleveland Browns roster, their contract status and how likely I see them as making the 2025 roster:
Locks – These players have a 99% or higher chance of being on the 53 man roster come week one unless they are traded or retire. Unless you are willing to bet $99 with the return of $100 then you don’t believe in someone strong enough for them to be a lock in this chart.
Bubble – These players are battling for a place on the 53 man roster, if they don’t make the team there is a chance they are claimed on waivers.
Practice Squad – These players are unlikely to make the 53 man roster and instead trying to make the practice squad.
Free Agents – There are different types of free agents in the NFL:
Unrestricted Free Agent – these players have four or more years of accrued seasons, meaning they can sign for whichever team they
want, and the only control a previous team has on them is a _ franchise or transition tag
Restricted Free Agent – these are usually undrafted free agents who have completed there seasons of their deal and then get paid more in the final year
Here are the projected tenders from Over The Cap, these are non guaranteed contracts. Once tendered other teams can offer them contracts and then teams have the chance to match the contract or allow them to leave.
Exclusive Right Free Agent – they have less than three seasons and can be kept around on the league minimum, the only other choice the player has is to retire
Re-Signing/Needs Summary
Here is the team heading into the offseason:
Juan Thornhill
Grant Delpit
Ronnie Hickman
D’Anthony Bell (RFA)
Christopher Edmonds (ERFA)
Trey Dean
Here is how I see the team heading into the NFL Draft:
Grant Delpit
Starting Free Safety
Ronnie Hickman
D’Anthony Bell (RFA)
Christopher Edmonds
Trey Dean
Veteran Minimum Free Agent
Veteran Minimum Free Agent
They add a free agent free safety to given them a proven partner with Delpit. This doesn’t close the door on Hickman, the hope would be he can develop into a starter in 2o26. The safety market usually has plenty of options and is and advantage for a team like the Browns looking for someone on the starting/rotational line. Bell is back for one final year and could be a long term special teamer but when you provide little defensive value you are always at risk of being replaced by draft picks coming in. They add more veteran minimum players to see who can earn that fifth spot before a draft pick is potentially added.
Unlikely To Reach Free Agency
Exclusive Free Agents
These are players with less than three accrued seasons (6+ games on the roster) which means the team can retain them for the league minimum with no guarantees. These players can either sign it or retire, they have no negotiating power.
Restricted Free Agents
These are players with three accrued seasons which means a team can tender them, the money isn’t guaranteed, and other teams can then offer them contracts. The team owning their rights can match the deal to retain them or get the selected pick below by letting them walk. It is rare for teams to ever bid on these players.
Here are Over The Caps’s projections:
First Round – $7,279,000
Second Round – $5,217,000
Right of First Refusal – $3,185,000
Depth Safety Market
Here is a look at all the depth and special teams safety options I see on the market this offseason. These are players who are going to be the fourth and fifth safeties on the team. They are going to be battling the likes of D’Anthony Bell and a potential draft pick for a roster spot.
Unlikely Targets
Here are the players I would expect the Cleveland Browns to pass on:
Adrian Colbert – He doesn’t play enough special teams or to a high enough quality to be a choice ahead of Bell.
Darrick Forrest – He is a nice players and I would happily add him as a player with no guarantees battling for a spot but I don’t see him wanting Cleveland as he knows the depth chart has played like Hickman ahead of him.
Elijah Campbell – He hasn’t shown enough for me so it is a pass, okay specials but Bell is better.
Elijah Riley – With 70 defensive snaps in three years it is a pass for me.
K’Von Wallace – He hasn’t played well enough, a pass for me.
Lonnie Johnson Jr. – He hasn’t played well enough, I would focus on someone with special teams or defensive upside.
Richie Grant – He has had two years as a starter but struggled to get snaps in 2024, it is a pass for me.
Ronnie Harrison – He won’t be coming back to Cleveland for me and his play has been declining since a strong rookie season.
Ryan Neal – He would be a nice proven veteran, he doesn’t do much in the way of special teams though so he isn’t a natural choice to replace Bell.
Sam Franklin – His play hasn’t been good enough for me, the Browns have better options already.
Tarvarius Moore – His special teams haven’t been good enough for me to see him as a Bell replacement.
Tony Jefferson – You will struggle to find a better fourth safety option defensively but I want either upside or special teams play and he doesn’t bring that.
Ideal Targets
Here are the players I would expect to be on the Cleveland
Browns shortlist:
M.J. Stewart – If they can’t get a deal done with Bell he would be a nice replacement. He can be a backup strong safety, backup slot cornerback and a special teams contributor.
