The next phase of the 2026 season is approaching, as the NFL moves towards the start of the new league year and the start of free agency. Teams around the league will look to add or re-sign players to bolster their rosters for the 2026 season.
The Browns have 31 players who are set to become free agents on March 11 when the new league year officially begins at 4 p.m. ET. Of those 31 players, 19 of them will become unrestricted free agents, five will be restricted free agents and seven will be exclusive rights free agents.
Let's take a look at which players are eligible to hit the free agent market.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Unrestricted free agents refer to players who have played at least four seasons and can sign with any team without restrictions. They will have their 2025 contracts expire when the new league year begins and are able to sign on March 11.
CB Tre Avery
The Browns originally signed Avery to the practice squad in September 2025, and he bounced between the active roster and practice squad over the course of the season. He was last signed to the active roster from the practice squad in October 2025. Avery appeared in 10 games during the 2025 season, totaling 13 tackles.
LB Jerome Baker
Baker signed with the Browns during free agency in 2025. He played in all 17 games, earning four starts in his first season with Cleveland. He recorded 40 tackles, three tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
G Joel Bitonio
Bitonio spent the entirety of his 12-year playing career with the Browns after he was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by Cleveland. He was a foundational piece of the offensive line over his career in Cleveland, as his 178 career games played are the ninth-most in Browns history. His 178 career starts are also the most by a Brown since the team returned in 1999. Bitonio has been selected to seven career Pro Bowls. He was the only offensive player to start every game for the Browns in 2025.
P Corey Bojorquez
Bojorquez first signed with Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent in 2022 and spent the last four seasons as the Browns' punter. Bojorquez led the league with 4,165 punting yards during the 2025 season. In 2024, he booted 89 punts for an NFL-high 4,387 yards landing an NFL-leading 16 inside the 10-yard line. He also finished the season with a 49.3 punt average and a 41.8 net punting average, both of which were second-most by a Brown in a season. Bojorquez set the Browns single-season record with 49.4 average in 2023.
LB Devin Bush
Bush first signed with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent in 2024 to add depth to their linebacker room. He was re-signed during the 2025 offseason and played an integral role throughout the regular season. Bush started all 17 games in 2025 and recorded three interceptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns. He was the only player in the NFL to record multiple interception touchdowns during the 2025 season. He added eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two sacks, 125 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.
WR DeAndre Carter
Carter signed with the Browns during free agency in 2025 and appeared in four games during the season, serving as the team's kickoff and punt returner. Carter was placed on injured reserve following Week 4 and missed the remainder of the season as he remained on injured reserve.
T Jack Conklin
Conklin first signed with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent in 2020 and spent the past six seasons as a key piece of Cleveland's offensive line, as he started all 57 games played for the Browns. He opened holes for some of the top running backs in the NFL and helped the Browns lead the NFL in rushing average in 2021. Conklin sustained a knee injury during the 2023 season opener and missed the remainder of the season. He returned in 2024, and in 2025, he started all eight games played at right tackle but dealt with injuries that caused him to miss nine games.
CB Martin Emerson Jr.
Emerson was originally drafted by the Browns in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In his first three seasons, Emerson recorded 202 tackles, five tackles for loss and one quarterback hit, as well as 34 passes defensed, four interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one sack. Emerson missed the 2025 season after he sustained an Achilles injury in training camp and was placed on injured reserve for the 2025 season.
RB Jerome Ford
Ford was originally drafted by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In his four years in Cleveland, Ford totaled 340 carries for 1,463 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He added 107 receptions for 647 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He appeared in 57 career games, including 18 starts. Ford appeared in 13 games during the 2025 season before he was placed on injured reserve and missed the final four games of the season.
DT Shelby Harris
Harris signed with the Browns during preseason of the 2023 season to bolster their defensive line. He has played an important role on the interior off the defensive line over three seasons, appearing in 48 games with 25 starts. Harris recorded 97 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, four sacks, two forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed over three seasons.
G Teven Jenkins
Jenkins signed with the Browns during the 2025 free agency period as an unrestricted free agent. Jenkins played in all 17 games and earned four starts at right guard, providing key depth as the offensive line dealt with injuries over the course of the season.
S Rayshawn Jenkins
Jenkins signed with the Browns in May 2025 and appeared in 17 games, including three starts. Jenkins recorded 45 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, one pass defensed, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during the 2025 season.
TE David Njoku
Njoku spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Browns, as he was drafted by Cleveland in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Over nine seasons, Njoku totaled 384 receptions for 4,062 yards and 34 receiving touchdowns. His career receiving touchdowns are second all-time for most career receiving touchdowns by a Browns tight end, while his career receptions are second all-time for most career receptions by a Brown. He is third all-time in career receiving yards by a Browns tight end.
T Cam Robinson
The Browns acquired Robinson in a trade with the Texans following Week 4 of the 2025 season to add depth to the offensive line. Robinson started 12 of 13 games played at left tackle during the 2025 season.
C Ethan Pocic
Pocic signed with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent in 2022 and signed a three-year contract extension in 2023. In his four seasons with the Browns, Pocic started all 57 games played, and was a foundational piece of the offensive line. In 2025, Pocic started all 13 games played before he sustained an Achilles injury and was placed on injured reserve, missing the final four games of the season.
CB D'Angelo Ross
The Browns signed Ross off of Houston's practice squad in November 2025 and he appeared in seven games. Ross recorded nine tackles and two passes defensed.
G Wyatt Teller
The Browns traded for Teller in 2019, and Teller spent the past seven seasons in Cleveland as a key figure at right guard for the offensive line. He appeared in 101 career games with the Browns, including 94 starts, and became the full-time starter in 2021. He signed a four-year contract extension during the 2021 season that carried through the 2025 season.
DE Cameron Thomas
Thomas was first acquired via waivers by the Browns in November 2024 and appeared in five games for Cleveland, recording 11 tackles and one sack. He then played in all 17 games during the 2025 season, recording 28 tackles, one tackle for loss, seven quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks.
RB Trayveon Williams
Williams spent time on the Browns' practice squad during the 2025 preseason before he was later released. The Browns then signed Wiliams off the Chargers' practice squad in December 2025, and he appeared in the final four games of the season.
Restricted Free Agents
Restricted free agents refer to players with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. They are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer one of various qualifying offers ("tenders") that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation. If the tender is withdrawn by a team, the RFA becomes an unrestricted free agent.
LB Mohamoud Diabate
Diabate was originally signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He was one of two undrafted free agents to make Cleveland's initial 53-man roster in 2023 and appeared in 16 games with one start for the Browns in 2023, recording two tackles and one fumble recovery. Then in 2024, he logged 65 tackles on defense, while appearing in 13 games with 11 starts. Diabate played in all 17 games in 2025, including six starts, and recorded 49 tackles, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
S Ronnie Hickman
Hickman originally signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and was one of two undrafted free agents to make Cleveland's initial 53-man roster in 2023. He appeared in 10 games with four starts for the Browns in 2023, recording his first career interception and returned it 30-yards for a touchdown on Dec. 28 against the Jets. He played in 15 games with five starts for the Browns in 2024, recording 45 tackles and a fumble recovery. Hickman then became a full-time starter in 2025, starting all 17 games. He totaled 103 tackles, one tackle for loss, seven passes defensed and two interceptions.
DT Sam Kamara
Kamara first signed with the Browns in 2022 to their practice squad. Over four seasons, he has spent time as a member of the practice squad and on the active roster. He was then signed to the practice squad in August 2025 and was elevated three times over the course of the season before he was signed to the active roster in December 2025. He has appeared in 18 career games with the Browns, including four in 2025.
CB Sam Webb
The Browns signed Webb off of Tennessee's practice squad in November 2025. He appeared in seven games with Cleveland, including two starts, and totaled eight tackles, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.
TE Blake Whiteheart
Whiteheart originally signed to the Browns' practice squad in August 2024, and played in a total of 11 games, including two starts, and recorded six receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown that season. He then signed an exclusive rights free agent tender in April 2025 and made the active roster for the 2025 season. Whiteheart played in all 17 games in 2025, including four starts, and recorded two receptions for four yards.
Exclusive Rights Free agents
Exclusive rights free agents refer to players with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If the original team offers a one-year contract at the league minimum, the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
TE Brenden Bates
Bates was signed to the Browns' active roster in December 2024 and appeared in two games his first season. Bates then made the 2025 active roster but was later waived in August 2025. The Browns then claimed Bates via waivers from Houston in October 2025, and Bates appeared in six games with Cleveland, including three starts. He recorded two receptions for 25 yards.
WR Malachi Corley
Corley was first signed to the practice squad in August 2025 before being signed to the active roster from the practice squad in September 2025. Corley developed an offensive role, as he played in 13 games and earned five starts. He recorded 11 receptions for 79 receiving yards, as well as 13 carries for 127 rushing yards.
CB Anthony Kendall
Kendall originally signed with the Browns during the 2025 offseason, but he sustained an injury during preseason and was waived with an injury designation. He remained on injured reserve for the entirety of the 2025 season.
LB Winston Reid
Reid originally signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and was later signed to the active roster in September 2024. He appeared in 16 games with three starts for the Browns in 2024, also appearing as a blocker in short yardage situations. Reid recorded 15 tackles, half of a sack, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery on the season, adding eight tackles on special teams. Reid then signed an exclusive rights free agent tender in April 2025 but was later placed on injured reserve in August 2025.
LS Rex Sunahara
Sunahara first signed with the Browns during the 2024 preseason before he was added to the practice squad in August 2024. He was then signed to the active roster in October 2024 and made his NFL debut against the Eagles in Week 6. Sunahara appeared in 12 games and made two special teams tackles in 2024. Sunahara earned the long snapper job for the 2025 season, appearing in all 17 games played.
K Andre Szmyt
Szmyt originally joined the Browns in 2024 when he was signed to the practice squad and later released. He was then signed to a reserve/futures contract in 2025 and signed in June 2025. Szmyt competed throughout training camp for the kicking position and earned the job as he made the 53-man roster. In 2025, Szmyt made 24 of 27 field goal attempts and 25 of 26 extra point attempts.
WR Jamari Thrash
Thash was originally selected by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He appeared in nine games with the Browns in 2024 making his NFL debut at home against Cincinnati on Oct. 20, 2024. Thrash continued to develop his role in the receiving corps, and he appeared in nine games during the 2025 season, earning one start. He recorded 10 receptions for 107 receiving yards in 2025, with his longest reception for 23 yards.
