The Cleveland Browns made another minor transaction late Friday as the club prepares for the start of free agency.
General manager Andrew Berry decided not to tender defensive end James Houston, making the third-year player a free agent, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The #Browns are not tendering pass-rusher James Houston, who they had claimed this past season from the #Lions. He has flashed, especially when he had eight sacks as a rookie.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2025
Houston now joins the list of Cleveland players who are set to be free agents when the new league year opens on Wednesday. The list runs from well-known players like running back Nick Chubb, wide receiver Elijah Moore, and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, down to lesser-known names like Houston.
Related:2025 NFL Free Agency Profiles
Cleveland has two other restricted free agents eligible for a tender offer in quarterback Bailey Zappe and safety D’Anthony Bell. The tender offers are for players with at least three years of accrued service and teams have to determine if they want to place a first-round tender, second-round tender, or a tender equal to the player’s original draft position, which in Houston’s case would have been a sixth-round tender.
Over the Cap estimates the 2025 tenders to be $7.3 million for first-rounders, $5.2 million for second-rounders, and $3.2 million for original-round tenders. Teams can sign a player with a tender, but they would owe that team the corresponding draft pick if the team opts not to match the offer. If these players are not tendered by the start of free agency, they revert to unrestricted free agents.
The Browns acquired Houston from the Detroit Lions in November 2024. Houston, originally selected by the Lions in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, played in 17 games with the Lions, accumulating 15 tackles, nine sacks, and 14 quarterback hits.
Eight of Houston’s career sacks came in his rookie season, and the Browns believed they could help Houston regain his edge in getting after the quarterback.
That did not happen, however, as Houston appeared in just three games with the Browns, playing just 25 defensive snaps and posting no stats.