The first place both sides will look to is can a long term extension be worked out. Where Hickman has no guarantees, he will likely be keen to get something agreed that gives him security, he has only earned $2,715,000 to this stage of his career.
It could be a three year deal worth potentially $15m with $10m guaranteed or something with less risk of say two years of $12m with $6m guaranteed. The second deal allows the team to get out of the deal but get a cost controlled 2027 year if he does well starting in 2026.
With the current tender he has a salary cap number of $5,767,000 for 2026, which is less than ideal as the Browns like to have a minimum base salary and signing bonuses. An extension allows this.
### Leverage A Cheaper Deal
Since Ronnie Hickman has no guarantees, they can hold onto him until the start of the season, then with the threat of being cut he could do a deal rather than risk being exposed to free agency and finding a new team where he might not start without an injury. Teams will tend to have filled their needs by then.
They must feel he can get more than the first right of refusal tender worth $3,520,000 else he would have had this tender. So they could take the non-guaranteed $5,767,000 deal and agree a middle deal. If it was $3.52m guaranteed with incentives to take it all the way up to $5.767m so he can earn the full amount if he plays in every game, performs to a certain level etc.
Both are possible routes and they might try to push a decision until after free agency, they might sign a better safety they want and allow Hickman to go into the market. If he doesn't get a deal, maybe they want a three safety base and look to do a deal rather than have a slot cornerback playing in nickel.