Several big names have contracts that Cleveland could try to move on from to save cap space.
The 2025 league year is quickly approaching, and a lot of players from the Cleveland Browns are set to become free agents. In addition, GM Andrew Berry will need to make some moves to get Cleveland under the salary cap, and that means there could be a handful of cap casualties.
We already know that veteran safety Juan Thornhill was released by the Browns, with a post-June 1st designation. Long snapper Charley Hughlett was also released. Let’s take a look at a few other players who could shave some money off the cap.
Browns’ Potential Cap Casualties
DT Dalvin Tomlinson
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The contract that Dalvin Tomlinson signed in 2023 is quite complex. The reason is he on this list, though, is that he is due a $10 million option bonus at some point this season. Cleveland reportedly has the flexibility of paying out that bonus over the span of several dead years, or converting it to his base salary in 2025. He is also due some fairly lucrative roster bonuses.
Currently, Tomlinson is set to have a cap number of $11.54 million in 2025. If the Browns were to cut him and make him a post-June 1st cut like Thornhill, then he would count as $5.04 million toward the cap in 2025, and $12.11 million against the cap in 2026. That is about $6.5 million that could be opened up this year against the cap, allowing Berry more flexibility for younger talent.
Should the Browns do it? Tomlinson still showed to be a solid player last year, but he has not been exceptional these past two years. He’s entering his ninth year in the NFL. Cleveland invested a second-round pick in DT Mike Hall last year, and although he suffered a torn MCL to end the season, he is expected to be ready for the 2025 season and looked the part of a good defensive tackle last year. Rookie Jowon Briggs also showed some nice flashes. It’s a position that Cleveland could consider saving money at and continuing to rebuild.
CB Greg Newsome
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When it comes to Greg Newsome, the Browns will not be cutting him. As a first-round draft pick, he only counted as $2.32 million, $2.90 million, $3.48 million, and $4.06 million against the cap over the past four years. But when Cleveland opted to pick up his fifth-year option, that means his 2025 season is fully guaranteed at $13.38 million. Ouch. Whether you keep him or cut him, he’s making the same amount of money.
Newsome has been a decent player for the Browns, but I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that he has not quite lived up to his first-round status. The only way Cleveland can save against the cap, besides a restructure, would be to flat out trade Newsome. Cleveland already showed confidence in Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson last year, and it’s unclear if they envision Newsome being part of their long-term plans. Newsome should still have some interest around the league, and teams may view him as one of the top “free agent” cornerbacks, so-to-speak, if they can have him via a trade and also agree to negotiate a new deal. That would save Cleveland $13+ million, it’s just that finding a suitor may not be easy, and would net very little compensation in return.
LB Jordan Hicks
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Jordan Hicks was supposed to be an upgrade over Anthony Walker, but the veteran missed five games and was a relative non-factor in the defense. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is still the key piece, and the Browns had some inspired play from the likes of Devin Bush (who is a free agent), Mohamoud Diabate, and Winston Reid.
Hicks is in the final year of his two-year deal, and is set to make $4.16 million against the cap, including a $1 million roster bonus due in mid-March. Hicks is another post-June 1st cut candidate, since his $2.5 million base salary is not guaranteed. He would only count as $658,000 against the cap, saving about $3.5 million. The rest of his signing bonus (about $2 million) would still count toward 2026.
Should the Browns consider making Tomlinson, Newsome, or Hicks a cap casualty? Let us know in the comments section below.