Team is “loosely planning” for veteran guard to return for a 12th season in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry still has a busy offseason checklist as the NFL Scouting Combine winds down.
Finding the team’s next quarterback remains at the top of the list, with rumors swirling that Berry will indeed select one with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft while also bringing in a veteran in free agency.
Speaking of free agency, which opens on March 10 and allows teams to talk with agents ahead of the March 12 signing date, Berry still needs to make some general accounting moves to shave a little more than $24 million off the books to stay compliant with the salary cap.
Then there is the ongoing saga over defensive end Myles Garrett’s trade request, with the Browns holding firm and Garrett wanting to go to a contending team.
If that is not enough to keep him occupied, Berry and the Browns may be in the market for a new starting left guard depending on whether or not veteran Joel Bitonio returns for a 12th season.
Bitonio is still weighing his options and recently shared his belief that the Browns are a viable quarterback away from being a playoff contender and that Garrett’s desires will not sway his decision in either direction.
Browns GM Andrew Berry says team is prepared for both scenarios regarding Joel Bitonio, whether he keeps playing or retires. pic.twitter.com/yRF3L0U4CG
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) February 25, 2025
He also said he would let the Browns know his decision before the start of free agency, and before his $3 million roster bonus comes due on March 14, giving Berry time to build a plan if needed.
Along those lines, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting (in a paywalled article) that the Browns are feeling good about having Bitonio back on the field this fall:
The Browns are optimistic about guard Joel Bitonio’s return for a 12th season, though he hasn’t made a firm determination yet. But the team is loosely planning for him to return and isn’t aggressively combing the guard market at this time.
Being optimistic is nice, and it certainly beats the alternative of a surprise retirement that leaves the front office in “oh crap, now what do we do?” mode. And loosely planning for Bitonio to return could be another way of saying they are keeping an eye on the free agent market, even if they are not doing so “aggressively.”
As for that market, if Bitonio does decide to retire and Berry has to shift course, some of the names to keep an eye on include old friend Kevin Zeitler (not a bad short-term solution), Will Fries, Mekhi Becton, and Brandon Scherff.