Browns roster likely to see changes via NFL free agency
Whenever a team ends up with 14 losses in a 17-game NFL season, one thing is certain: heads will roll.
There is zero doubt that the 2025 Cleveland Browns training camp will look a lot different than the 2024 version. Plenty of new faces will dot the 90-man roster as former Browns will be listed on the squads of other league clubs because they won’t be residents of Cleveland any longer.
It is not a thinning-out process, but an elimination of sub-par players. Championship teams have their fair share of average bodies on the bottom third of their rosters, but when the number of mediocre athletes begins creeping up past the halfway line, some issues need attention and change.
And “change” is exactly what the 2025 Browns will look for.
Here are five veteran players that most likely will not be listed on next season’s training camp registry:
OT James Hudson
When Hudson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft, he was viewed as a guy who could be groomed to one day be the starter, but would, for now, provide quality backup status.
Neither scenario ever materialized.
Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Any defensive end who possesses that one quick step right off the snap is already leaning ahead of Hudson. And as both players keep driving backward, the DE will invariably bend past Hudson and become free. The end result may not always be a sack, but in most cases, it does affect whatever quarterback Cleveland has in the game dropping back to pass. Suddenly, the QB has to move either up in the pocket or to the opposite side of the broken-down protection.
Hudson isn’t bad at run blocking, but his pass protection is absolutely horrible. His Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade in this area graded out at 40.2. He had 207 snaps at left tackle and 15 snaps at right tackle, his natural position.
A former defensive end converted to the other side of the line, Hudson started all 11 games in his final year at the University of Cincinnati and earned First Team All-American Athletic Conference honors. So, he came to Cleveland with accolades. But playing against Austin Peay, Southern Methodist, and East Carolina is a lot different than facing NFL defensive ends who live off of chewing up green offensive tackles.
Contract: 2024 was the final year of his four-year rookie deal
DT Dalvin Tomlinson
During the 2023 free agency period, GM Andrew Berry announced that he had signed Tomlinson away from the Minnesota Vikings. He was Berry’s splash moment for the upcoming season. Yes, the Browns had issues with stopping the run that season. In fact, they were like a sieve as each game another runner gashed them right up the gut.
Tomlinson had the girth at 325 pounds and was a bit taller than most interior defensive linemen standing 6’-3”. At the time he was a six-year veteran, but his only accolades were being named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. In two years with Minnesota after being drafted by the New York Football Giants, his grand totals with the Vikings were 81 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and five sacks.
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
Yet, despite nominal numbers, Berry inked Tomlinson to a four-year $57 million deal. Not a single Pro Bowl, yet paid like he had accumulated several hardware pieces. His production numbers were average at best when he arrived at the Berea training facility.
And his numbers since becoming a member of the Browns? 28 total tackles last year and 26 this season. Really? Six total sacks in two years. Yawn. 10 tackles for loss for the two-year period. Sad. He has been very durable, though. He shows up to work and gives it everything he has. Which is not much. In the game film breakdown, he is continually being shoved out of harm’s way on running plays.
He was signed to stop the run and if he provided much of a pass rush that would be considered a bonus. His PFF run defense grade this year was 64.2. Is that worth the cap hit of $6.5 million he cost the franchise? It gets worse. His salary for 2025 goes up to $11.497 million. Release him now.
Contract: 2026 will be the final year of his four-year deal
S Juan Thornhill
Another splash signing in free agency that never materialized. After Berry inked Tomlinson, he bought Thornhill and signed him to a three-year contract worth $21 million.
The Browns needed talent at the safety position as they herded Ronnie Harrison out the door. Thornhill had a Super Bowl ring and 52 NFL starts. In his final year with the Kansas City Chiefs, he netted 71 tackles, was deemed aggressive, and had eight interceptions in four seasons.
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images
With Cleveland, his work ethic became questioned. On the field, aggressive would become lackadaisical as he was seen numerous times making minimal effort to tackle receivers. He gained the nickname “Jog Thornhill” as he was viewed countless times jogging on plays instead of making sure he was in on the tackle. His lack of effort seems endless.
After being called out on it against the New Orleans Saints, Thornhill was questioned about his lackluster play:
“Yeah, we talked about it. We definitely did. They were saying I need to give more effort on that play and I know it, they know it, everybody knows that I need to give more effort, so it’s nothing I can hide from. It’s obvious I didn’t try as hard as I possibly could and it just won’t happen no more.”
Why did it happen at all? There are only 17 games. An NFL player is paid handsomely. Why does the media have to point it out, and Thornhill has to be reminded to give full effort on every play? Don’t opponents see this and take advantage? What happened to his competitiveness?
With the Browns, he has zero interceptions. His tackles have declined to 49 this year with just four batted passes in his two seasons.
Thorny will count $5.684 against the cap this year. The Browns need guys who are hungry, not ones who got that one huge contract and think he can give minimal effort from now on.
His PFF pass coverage grade was 64.5 this year. Without a doubt, Thornhill has largely been a disappointment. Move on from this guy.
Contract: 2025 will be the final year of his three-year deal
WR Elijah Moore
Moore was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft by the New York Jets. When Berry traded for him, the Jets got back their second-round pick. What did the Browns get in return? Not much.
He is one of those guys who is just good enough to wear an NFL uniform, but next year if you saw him playing in the CFL or the UFL you wouldn’t be surprised.
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images
In his final year at Ole Miss, Moore had 1,193 yards with eight touchdowns. What was remarkable was that this was just in eight games. He also returned punts. The Jets needed a #2 receiver and took him early in the second round.
But his annual numbers in New York were just average. 77 targets, 43 receptions, and 538 yards in his rookie season followed by 65 targets, 37 catches for 446 yards his second year. Those numbers are fifth-round production yet Berry sent a second-round pick for Moore.
Nothing much changed since he arrived in Berea. They threw him the ball 104 targets his first year and 102 targets this past season. Targets do not compute to production unless you catch the ball. In his first season with the Browns, he had just 640 yards on 59 catches which meant he caught 56% of all passes thrown his way. This year he had 61 receptions for 538 yards for 59% of caught balls.
Moore’s overall PFF grade was 58.5. He was 86th (out of 98) in receiving touchdowns.
Moore made $3.116 million this year. That is $51,081 per catch. Where do you sign up for that job? Time to move on to a player that will produce.
Contract: 2024 was the final year of his four-year rookie deal that the Browns assumed
OT Jedrick Wills, Jr.
When Berry took the helm of his first NFL draft in 2020, he knew the offensive line needed a lot of attention. He had signed OT Jack Conklin in free agency. The draft was a great draft for offensive tackles and after the Giants selected OT Andrew Thomas from the University of Georgia with the fourth overall pick, Berry had his choice of five other tackles predicted to be taken in the first round.
His choice was Wills with the 10th overall pick.
On paper, Wills appeared to be a prominent piece of Cleveland’s offensive line recovery. In college, Wills was named the starter at right tackle going into his sophomore season at the University of Alabama. He then became a three-year starter at right tackle and was named First Team All-SEC his senior season along with being selected Second Team All-American. The fact that Wills played in a tough conference was viewed as a huge plus.
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With the Browns, he was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and appeared on his way to being the answer while being shifted to left tackle. As a rookie, he only allowed four sacks but tied for the league lead with 11 penalties. In his second season, he allowed five sacks with a PFF grade of 66.1. He was ranked 58th in pass blocking. In 2022 Wills had 10 penalties while last year the penalties went down to six.
This year, he was once again injured and only played five games. His PFF grade for those few contests was 52.9.
In the 2020 draft, three slots after Berry chose Wills, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took OT Tristan Wirfs. He has since been selected to four Pro Bowls including 2024, named both First and Second Team All-Pro, and is a Super Bowl champion.
Obviously, Berry chose the wrong tackle. But the continued bad play from Wills doesn’t have to haunt the Browns. His contract is up. Let him try to show another club he is worthy of wearing an NFL jersey once again.
Contract: 2024 was the final year of his four-year rookie deal
Do you think the Browns roster in 2025 should have any of these players or should they move on from all five? Share your thoughts below in our comment section