The NFL schedule might seem like a strange one to the outside world. Tell anyone somewhat interested in the NFL that NFL free agency just opened officially on Wednesday afternoon, and they’d tell you that you were two days late to the party. The legal tampering period that opened on Monday gave us a lot of news and some Maxx Crosby-related drama, before most of the moves could become official on Wednesday.
The Cleveland Browns made the re-signing of OL Teven Jenkins official on Tuesday as teams were
allowed to sign their own players to contracts at any time.
With the start of the league year, the Browns officially tendered S Ronnie Hickman, without providing certainty to what level (previously reported as second round), which officially means that the following are unrestricted free agents, with Cleveland not tendering them as restricted:
- LB Mohamoud Diabate
- TE Blake Whiteheart
- DL Sam Kamara
Diabate is among the most surprising, given his performance on special teams and in rotation on defense. Whiteheart and Kamara have had marginal roles during their time with the team.
With the start of the league year, and no official news, OL Joel Bitonio also becomes an unrestricted free agent as his contract has been officially voided while he ponders his next decision. With the Browns adding two new interior offensive linemen and retaining Jenkins, Bitonio’s time in Cleveland seems over. Whether Bitonio will retire or seek one chance at competing for a Super Bowl is still to be determined.
Bitonio will count over $23 million against the salary cap this year for the Browns, even if he decides to play elsewhere.
