CLEVELAND — The NFL's legal tampering period starts at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, March 13, 2023, marking the unofficial start of the league's free agency period.
With that in mind, here's everything you need to know about the Cleveland Browns' free agency outlook ahead of the official start of the new league year on Wednesday, March 15:
Pending free agents
The following players who were under contract with the Browns in 2022 are set to hit the open market. Unless noted otherwise, all players are unrestricted free agents who are free to sign with new teams:
- LB Deion Jones
- DE Jadeveon Clowney
- RB Kareem Hunt
- QB Jacoby Brissett
- LB Anthony Walker Jr.
- DL Taven Bryan
- OT Chris Hubbard
- CB Greedy Williams
- S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
- RB D'Ernest Johnson
- DE Stephen Weatherly
- C Ethan Pocic
- TE Jesse James
- LB Reggie Ragland
- TE Pharoah Brown
- LB Jermaine Carter Jr.
- LB Jordan Kunaszyk
- LB Tae Davis
- DE Chase Winovich
- LB Sione Takitaki
- DE Chris Odom (Exclusive rights free agent)
- OG Hjalte Froholdt
- OL Michael Dunn (Restricted free agent)
- CB A.J. Green (Restricted free agent)
Cleveland Browns' 2022 free agency needs
Defensive tackle
The Browns' need to upgrade their defensive tackles was clear throughout the 2022 season and only amplified by the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. While this hasn't been a position that Cleveland has prioritized under general manager Andrew Berry, don't be surprised if the Browns take multiple swings at addressing it via both free agency and the draft.
Wide receiver
Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones are coming off strong seasons, but Cleveland could stand to add more weapons to quarterback Deshaun Watson's arsenal. In particular, it would behoove the Browns to add a speedy downfield threat capable of stretching the field to open up the rest of Cleveland's offense.
Safety
Cleveland is cutting John Johnson III and Ronnie Harrison Jr. is set to hit free agency. Schwartz's defenses have typically deployed a single-high safety -- something the Browns' roster currently lacks.
Defensive end
After a strong 2021 season, Jadeveon Clowney was less productive in 2022 and appears poised to leave Cleveland on a sour note. While the Browns have one of the best defensive players in the league in Myles Garrett, second-year players Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas are the only other defensive ends currently on Cleveland's roster.
Potential free-agent targets
Player's most recent team listed in parentheses. Players not listed in any particular order.
Wide receiver
- Robbie Anderson (Arizona Cardinals)
- Jakobi Meyers (New England Patriots)
- Nelson Agholor (New England Patriots)
- DJ Chark (Detroit Lions)
- Byron Pringle (Chicago Bears)
- JuJu Smith-Schuster (Kansas City Chiefs)
- N'Keal Harry (Chicago Bears)
- Mack Hollins (Las Vegas Raiders)
- Jamison Crowder (Buffalo Bills)
- Mecole Hardman (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Parris Campbell (Indianapolis Colts)
Defensive end
- Frank Clark (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Brandon Graham (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Yannick Ngakoue (Indianpolis Colts)
- Bud Dupree (Tennessee Titans)
- Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (Houston Texans)
- Samson Ebukam (San Francisco 49ers)
- Clelin Ferrell (Las Vegas Raiders)
- Dawuane Smoot (Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Arden Key (Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Melvin Ingram (Miami Dolphins)
- Marcus Davenport (New Orleans Saints)
- Zach Allen (Arizona Cardinals)
- Da'shawn Hand (Detroit Lions)
Defensive tackle
- Fletcher Cox (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Javon Hargrave (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Dalvin Tomlinson (Minnesota Vikings)
- David Onyemata (New Orleans Saints)
- Sheldon Rankins (New York Jets)
- Jerry Tillery (Las Vegas Raiders)
- Dre'Mont Jones (Denver Broncos)
- Larry Ogunjobi (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Akiem Hicks (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Linebacker
- Zach Cunningham (Tennessee Titans)
- Lavonte David (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Eric Kendricks (Minnesota Vikings)
- Devin Bush (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Azeez Al-Shaair (San Francisco 49ers)
- Tremaine Edmunds (Buffalo Bills)
- Denzel Perryman (Las Vegas Raiders)
- Kyzir White (Philadelphia Eagles)
- David Long (Tennessee Titans)
- Bobby Wagner (Los Angeles Rams)
- T.J. Edwards (Philadelphia Eagles)
Safety
- Jessie Bates III (Cincinnati Bengals)
- Jordan Poyer (Buffalo Bills)
- Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Julian Love (New York Giants)
- Jimmie Ward (San Francisco 49ers)
- Juan Thornhill (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Adrian Amos (Green Bay Packers)
- Vonn Bell (Cincinnati Bengals)
- Rodney McLeod (Indianapolis Colts)
- Eric Rowe (Miami Dolphins)
- Terrell Edmunds (Pittsburgh Steelers)