247Sports Embed Resource
Cleveland Browns
Key Additions
Maliek Collins, DT (2 years, $20 million)
Cornelius Lucas, OT (2 years, up to $10 million)
Joe Tyron-Shoyinka, DE (1 year, $4.75 million)
Devin Bush, LB re-signed (1 year, $3.25 million)
Key Losses
Dalvin Tomlinson, DT signed with Arizona Cardinals (2 years, $29 million)
Browns Offseason Overview
The Browns got the jump on the free agency new cycle when they signed their All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett to a monster extension last Sunday. The deal made Garrett the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history. While the deal may have caught some in the national media with one foot off the merry-go-round, readers of The OBR knew Garrett's extension was always going to be the outcome.
Through the first week of free agency, the Browns have been the least active of the AFC North teams, signing three players and retaining one of their own. Although this level of activity is par for the course for Andrew Berry. The Browns General Manager is not typically active during the feeding frenzy at the opening bell of free agency.
Berry has customarily let other teams overpay for the initial wave of free agents while waiting for the cost to decrease in the secondary and tertiary free agent player market. However, it is clear that the Browns have work to do over the next couple of weeks to fill holes before the NFL draft.
Cleveland must add another quarterback, either through free agency or via trade. They managed to land Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick going the other way. While the move to acquire Pickett raises the floor of the Browns quarterback room, it cannot be the only move they make at the position before the upcoming NFL Draft.
The free agent signal caller game of musical chairs is winding down. With Atlanta opting to hold on to Kirk Cousins, it appears a trade is the only thing that could pry the veteran away from the Falcons. Cousins also has a no-trade clause in his contract so that route is also muddy.
Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers are the only two players remaining on the market that are viewed as starting-caliber quarterbacks. With four teams still needing a starter, and only two quarterbacks on the open market, the supply of quarterbacks will never meet the demand. If the Browns are unable to land Wilson, they may look to Jameis Winston or Joe Flacco as their fallback option.
However, the Browns have immediate needs to fill outside of the quarterback position. Berry still needs to sign a free safety to, at minimum, compete with Ronnie Hickman. Offensively, the Browns have depth needs at tight end, wide receiver, and running back, including whether or not to bring Nick Chubb back into the fold. Expect these holes to be filled over the next two to three weeks.
Baltimore Ravens
Key Free Agent Additions
DeAndre Hopkins, WR (1 year, $5 million)
Joe Hummel, LB (no contract details)
Ronnie Stanley, OT re-signed (3 years, $60 million)
Tylan Wallace, WR re-signed (1 year, $2.25)
Patrick Picard, FB re-signed (no contract details)
Ben Cleveland, OG re-signed (no contract details)
Key Free Agent Losses
Patrick Mekari, OL signed with Jacksonville Jaguars (3 years, $37.5 million)
Brandon Stephens, CB signed with New York Jets (3 years, $36 million)
Ravens Offseason Overview
The Ravens are operating as they normally do in the offseason. Baltimore prioritized re-signing their own talent over joining the free agency shopping spree while keeping their personnel losses at a minimum. Their biggest ticket item was to retain the services of left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
While some view giving Stanley $20 million a season as exorbitant, when you look at the offensive line free agency class Stanley would have been the biggest fish on the market and many teams were targeting him. Their biggest name acquisition was DeAndre Hopkins, although it is unclear what the All-Pro receiver has left in the tank heading into his 13th NFL season.
The Ravens still have needs at edge rusher, linebacker, cornerback, safety, and backup quarterback. Baltimore is also up against the salary cap, so expect some players like Lamar Jackson to receive an extension to provide some wiggle room for the 2025 season.
Cincinnati Bengals
Key Free Agent Additions
Tee Higgins, WR franchise tag (1 year, 26.2 million)
B.J. Hill, DT (3 years, $33 million)
Tedarrell Slaton, DT (2 years, $15.1 million)
Oren Burks, LB (2 years, $5 million)
Mike Gesicki, TE re-signed (3 years, $25.5 million)
Joseph Ossai, Edge re-signed (1 year, $7 million)
Samaje Perine, RB re-signed (2 years, up to $3.8 million)
Marco Wilson, CB re-signed (1 year, $1.52 million)
Cam Sample, Edge re-signed (no contract details)
Tanner Hudson, TE re-signed (no contract details)
Key Losses
Sheldon Rankins, DT signed with Houston Texans (1 year, $7 million)
Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB signed with Arizona Cardinals (2 years, $11 million)
Bengals Offseason Overview
Cincinnati placed a high priority on retaining their own players during the first week of free agency, re-signing seven players. The Bengals have been uncharacteristically spending money on skill positions, re-signing Mike Gesicki to a three-year deal and applying the franchise tag to Tee Higgins for the second year in a row.
However, the Bengals' biggest offseason expenditures are expected to be officially announced in the coming days. Wide receiver Jamar Chase is expected to sign the largest non-quarterback contract (currently held by Myles Garrett) in league history this upcoming week. The Bengals are also expected to come to terms with Tee Higgins as well, although no details are known currently.
While vital to the Bengals' offensive identity, those moves appear to be coming at a cost. Cincinnati gave the NFL 2024 sack leader, Trey Hendrickson, permission to seek a trade this offseason.
The Bengals did retain edge rushers Joseph Ossai and Cam Sample, but letting a player like Hendrickson walk could prove to be a costly mistake for a defense that, outside of Hendrickson's production, struggled mightily. Cincinnati also let nickelback Mike Hilton hit the open market. Will Cincinnati's offense be able to do what it could not last season and carry the team by themselves to the playoffs in 2025?
Pittsburgh Steelers
Key Additions
Mason Rudolph, QB (2 years, $8 million)
Darius Slay, CB (1 year, $10 million)
Malik Harrison, LB (2 years, $10 million)
Kenneth Gainwell, RB (1 year, $1.79 million)
Donald Parham Jr., TE (no contract details)
Brandin Echols, CB (no contract details)
Scotty Miller, WR re-signed (no contract details)
Ben Skowronek, WR re-signed (no contract details)
Key Losses
Najee Harris, RB signed with Los Angeles Chargers (1 year, up to $9.25 million)
Justin Fields, QB signed with New York Jets (2 years, $40 million)
Mike Williams, WR signed with Los Angeles Chargers (1 year, up to $6 million)
Van Jefferson, WR signed with Tennessee Titans (1 year, up to $2.5 million)
Dan Moore Jr., OT signed with Tennessee Titans (4 years, $82 million)
Larry Ogunjobi, DT signed with Buffalo Bills (1 year, $8.3 million)
Steelers Offseason Overview
The Steelers have uncharacteristically moved on from six players so far this offseason, all of which started multiple games for Pittsburgh in 2024. The Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans signed two players apiece from Pittsburgh's recent departures. Their biggest free agency acquisition was cornerback Darius Slay. The Steelers still have work to do in their secondary, but the addition of Slay provides Joey Porter Jr. with a running mate.
However, the Steelers' biggest offseason move was not in free agency. Pittsburgh sent their second and fifth round picks in the upcoming draft to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for D.K. Metcalf and a sixth round pick. Pittsburgh then immediately inked Metcalf to a five-year deal worth $150 million. Metcalf's deal represents the largest in Steelers' history.
The Steelers are in the same quarterback-less boat as Cleveland. However, unlike Cleveland, Pittsburgh appears to be somewhat connected to Aaron Rodgers and their starter last season, Russell Wilson. It seems unlikely that Pittsburgh will miss out on both quarterbacks.
Right now, Pittsburgh's biggest remaining question is whether George Pickens will be able to co-exist with the Steelers' new field stretcher. As consistent as the Steelers are year in and year out, so is their drama at the wide receiver position.