ESPN names Cleveland Browns’ veteran Pro Bowler as a player who could be on his way out in NFL free agency
The longtime starter for the Browns could soon be on his way out.
The Cleveland Browns’ 2026 roster could soon look a lot different from the way it has looked in a very long time.
Cleveland has the entirety of its offensive line scheduled to become a free agent in March, and four of the five starters have been together since 2020.
The Browns’ longest tenured player is LG Joel Bitonio and he’s scheduled to be a free agent. Bitonio is also mulling retirement and returning to the Browns for another season.
ESPN thinks Joel Bitonio should be heading on his way out
ESPN did an exercise picking 32 players who could use a change of scenery. After playing the entirety of his 12 years in Cleveland, he was the player floated for the Browns.
“Bitonio is still a top-caliber guard in the league, but he deserves to play for a winner before his career is over,” ESPN’s Aaron Schatz wrote. “He has played his entire 12-year career with Cleveland and has been to the playoffs only twice. Bitonio is a free agent this offseason, and he makes a lot of sense as a one-year plug-in for a playoff contender that needs an upgrade at the position. Could we interest coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers?”
Bitonio has started all 178 games he’s played for the Browns over the last 12 years and besides an injury in 2016, he’s been very reliable. Bitonio had seven straight Pro Bowl appearances before this season and was a first team All-Pro for two of those years.
At age 34, Bitonio has been mulling retirement each of the last couple of offseasons. Bitonio is the longest tenured member of the Browns, and a longtime team captain for the team. Bitonio has one playoff win in 2020 under his belt and has played a lot of football to only get into the playoffs twice.
The Browns and Bitonio pushed back the void date for his contract from Feb. 16. Cleveland and Bitonio are working through his future, and we’ll soon see if he does it another go. The most likely option here is Bitonio hanging it up before playing for another team.
Schatz naming the Los Angeles Chargers as a potential destination is an interesting on to keep an eye on.
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