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Ronnie Hickman #33 of the Cleveland Browns
When it comes to the Cleveland Browns‘ approach this offseason, the feeling has been simple–add as much to offense as possible, and just fill in gaps on the defensive side of the roster. When you have a team that was one of the three best defensively in 2025, and one of the worst in recent memory offensively, that makes sense. The Browns spent most of free agency filling out the badly depleted offensive line, and made some moves around the margins on the line.
But the team did pull an interesting move at the safety spot, and considering where the Browns are drafting and who might be on the board, it’s worth monitoring. The Browns played most of 2025 with third-year man Ronnie Hickman as their free safety, who started 17 games. he is a free agent this offseason, and originally, it was reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the Browns planned to give Hickman a second-round tender.
That’s significant because it would guarantee Hickman at $5.8 million contract and mean that anyone who successfully signed him away from the Browns would have to give Cleveland a second-round pick.
Ronnie Hickman Started 17 Games in 2025
Hickman was very good opposite Grant Delpit on the back line for the Browns in 2025. He started 17 games and was in on 103 tackles. he had three interceptions and on the rare occasion he was targeted by quarterbacks, he allowed a rating of just 78.7.
Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 22 among 91 safeties in the NFL. Considering he is just 24 years old, a second-round tender made some sense for Hickman. But it turns out, the Browns did not actually give Hickman a second-round tender–he was just given a standard restricted free agent tender.
A team could swoop in and give Hickman a good offer, and the Browns would have to match it–they would not get a second-rounder in compensation for letting Hickman go.
Browns Could Lose Ronnie Hickman
As Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot noted, days after Fowler’s original report, “#Browns S Ronnie Hickman was the only RFA they tendered (right of first refusal). Among those not tendered were TE Blake Whiteheart, DL Sam Kamara and LB Mohamoud Diabate.”
As Matt Wilson of DawgsByNature.com--SB Nation’s Browns site–noted, the Browns are rather exposed at safety.
“I’m surprised more#Browns fans aren’t talking about the team’s potential Texas-sized hole at free safety. Ronnie Hickman is as good as gone if another team offers him even an average-size 2-year deal. Don’t be surprised if Cleveland gets super aggressive in the NFL Draft to find a new center-fielder for 2026.”
When it was pointed out to Wilson that the Browns had a second-round tender, he shot back, “Hickman wasn’t given a 2nd round tender, that was misinformation.”
Caleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes could land with the Cleveland Browns in a controversial draft decision.
GettyCaleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes could land with the Cleveland Browns in a controversial draft decision.
Browns Could Look to Caleb Downs at No. 6
It’s entirely possible that, from a Browns perspective, there is not much to worry about with Hickman. Nobody stepped forward in the first wave of free agency with a good offer for Hickman, and now, if Hickman does get a contract from elsewhere, the Browns can still match it.
But it is interesting that the Hickman situation lingers in the background as the Browns sit on the No. 6 pick, with the probable question of whether they should draft for need or take the best available player–who is likely to be Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
Keeping Hickman on a right of first refusal tender would make him easier to move on from, if the Browns did decide to go defense with the first pick and take Downs.