Former Cleveland Browns All-Pro Joel Bitonio has been connected to an NFC team, and it should be no surprise if he ends up signing there
A Joel Bitonio decision on his NFL playing future is expected to come before long. One national outlet believes he could be heading to the NFC, and not signing another deal with the Cleveland Browns.
The Cleveland Browns went out and accomplished the one thing they had to do this offseason: an entire makeover of their offensive line.
As it currently stands, the Browns are set to have five new starters along the offensive line when they take the field this fall. However, one big question mark is what happens with free agent LG Joel Bitonio.
As time goes by and he remains on the free agent market with no decision made on retirement, it seems more and more likely Bitonio will be suiting up elsewhere for the first time in his NFL career.
NFC team could be an obvious fit for former Browns Pro Bowler Joel Bitonio
Bitonio has started 178 games over the last 12 seasons for the Browns and 2026 could bring him suiting up with another team for the first time. There are a few teams out there who make sense for the 34-year-old, and one of them happens to be going to play for his old coach.
Fox Sports tabbed the Atlanta Falcons as a potential landing spot for Bitonio to sign with. It would have the seven-time Pro Bowler rejoin former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive line coach Bill Callahan.
“Bitonio’s former offensive line coach with the Browns, Bill Callahan, now has the same position with the Falcons, so Atlanta is a natural landing spot for him,” Fox’s Ben Arthur wrote. “The Falcons have starting guards in place with Chris Lindstrom and Matthew Bergeron, but offensive line depth is never a bad thing. Atlanta just saw Kaleb McGary, its starting right tackle from 2019-24, retire in April.”
There hasn’t been any kind of mass exodus in terms of former Browns players going to Atlanta to play for Stefanski. EDGE Cameron Thomas signed there in free agency, but it’s pretty scarce after him.
Browns’ plan without Joel Bitonio appears clear
If Bitonio wants to return to Cleveland for one more season, the Browns will make room. Cleveland signed G Zion Johnson to a sizable deal in free agency, and he’s set to start along with G/C Elgton Jenkins. It’s not likely Bitonio returns, but if he did the Browns could start Jenkins at center with Johnson at right guard.
Cleveland drafted former Alabama C Parker Brailsford on Day 3 of the draft and they hope he can be a future starter for them. If he can be, the Browns can play Jenkins at right guard, Johnson at left guard. Then it would be rookie Spencer Fano and Tytus Howard filling out the tackle spots.
One more season in Cleveland would be welcomed for Bitonio, but I just don’t see it happening. If I were him, I would try to go somewhere to contend for the first time in my career, perhaps the Buffalo Bills.