BEREA, Ohio — After hiring Todd Monken as the new head coach and finalizing the coaching staff around him, the Cleveland Browns are entering the next phase of the offseason—free agency.
Beginning on Monday. March 9, teams are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents, and as soon as the window opened, teams around the league began making moves and agreeing to terms, sending talent spiraling across teams.
The Browns have 19 players set to become unrestricted free agents, five players set to become restricted rights free agents and seven exclusive rights free agent players, six of whom the Browns have already tendered. Some of those players, like the ERFA players tendered, will find themselves back on the Browns for the 2026 season. Others will soon call new teams home. The same will go for free agents on other teams who could land here in Cleveland.
General manager Andrew Berry spoke at the NFL Combine two weeks prior and addressed their expected approach to free agency, admitting that they may be more active next offseason than this one.
"I would anticipate that there's at least the chance that we would be a little bit more aggressive relative—well, more, I'll say this—more aggressive than last year, but it'll be targeted and opportunistic. I think realistically we may be one more off-season away from being hyper-aggressive in that window, but if there's something that fits us, fits our roster, fits our timeline, then it's certainly a swing we'll take," Berry said.
Berry and his front office may not consider this year to be as aggressive as they plan to be next season, but that doesn't mean they won't make moves. Trades and free agent signings will not be able to be made official until the start of the league's new year at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11.
Check back here for moves the Browns make to add talent to Cleveland in free agency:
Browns reverse course on signing former Bills DE
The Cleveland Browns planned to sign former Buffalo Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa to a one-year deal, but following a physical, the Browns have backed out of the signing, league sources confirmed to News 5.
The Browns had Epenesa in the team facility on Monday, March 23, but after he underwent a medical evaluation from the team physician, the Browns no longer felt comfortable inking the deal.
Epenesa had dealt with some injuries with the Bills, including a foot injury, a pectoral injury and a concussion last season.
Epenesa was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The defensive end has played six seasons with the Bills, with 135 total tackles, 29 for loss throughout his time in Buffalo, with five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 21 passes defended and four interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. Last season, Epenesa played in 16 games, starting in two.
Browns agree to terms with former Ravens WR, special teamer
The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms with former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver and special teamer Tylan Wallace, a league source confirmed to News 5.
Wallace was a fourth-round draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, selected by the Ravens.
Last season, Wallace recorded four catches for 45 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. As a returner on special teams, Wallace returned five kicks for 123 yards. Throughout his career, Wallace has also served in punt return roles, his best year in that regard coming in 2023 when he returned six punts for 127 total yards and one touchdown.
Browns agree to terms with special teamer, DB
The Cleveland Browns agreed to terms with former Lions safety and special teamer Daniel Thomas, league sources confirmed to News 5.
Thomas, 27, was originally selected out of Auburn by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, where he remained until being released last fall. The Detroit Lions signed Thomas last August, and after spending the start of the season on injured reserve due to a forearm injury that required surgery, Thomas was activated ahead of Week 10.
Throughout his six-year career, Thomas has played in 83 games and started in six. He's recorded 94 total tackles, one for loss, with a fumble recovery, three passes defended and an interception.
Last season with the Lions, Thomas played 70 snaps on kick coverage, 56 snaps on kick return, 28 snaps on punt coverage, 35 snaps on punt return and 44 snaps on field goal/extra point blocking.
Browns signing former 49ers DT
The Browns have spent the majority of the offseason with a focus on rebuilding the offensive line, but the trenches are important on both sides of the ball, and Cleveland made sure to address the defensive line as well. League sources confirmed to News 5 that the team is signing former 49ers defensive tackle Kalia Davis.
Davis, 27, was selected by San Francisco in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Last season, Davis played in and started all 17 games for the 49ers, recording 28 total tackles, four for loss, two QB hits, three passes defended and a split-sack.
Browns signing former Saints and Eagles TE
The Browns continue to strengthen the team's offensive line, signing former New Orleans Saints tight end Jack Stoll. The 6-foot-4, 247-pounder who played at Nebraska has spent five seasons in the NFL with the Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants.
Last season with the Saints, he played in 15 games, with four starts, recording one touchdown and six receptions for 46 yards. His 2025 season ended in Week 17 when he had to be carted off the field for a knee injury.
Stoll will provide the Browns with depth at the position behind standout rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., following veteran David Njoku taking to social media this offseason to say goodbye to Cleveland as he enters free agency. Stoll is likely to provide the Browns as a blocking tight end while Fannin carries more of the pass-catching duties.
Browns signing 2x Pro Bowl offensive lineman
The Browns put nearly all of their focus on reshaping the offensive line, and on Tuesday, found another piece to the puzzle. League sources confirmed to News 5 that the Browns plan to sign former Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins to a two-year deal worth $24 million.
Jenkins, 30, was originally selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. In 2020, Jenkins earned his first Pro Bowl honors as a starter and was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2023.
The versatile lineman has spent time at every position across the line, taking snaps at right and left tackle but primarily serving as left guard and center. Last season, Jenkins was moved from guard to center, where he played 538 snaps.
Jenkins was placed on injured reserve in November after suffering a lower-leg fracture that included ligament damage, ending his season early.
Browns signing former Jets linebacker
After losing standout linebacker Devin Bush to free agency on Monday, the Browns got to work quickly to fill the void, agreeing to a two-year deal with former Jets linebacker Quincy Williams.
Williams, 29, was originally drafted by the Jaguars in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Williams dealt with some injuries in Jacksonville before the team waived him. In 2021, the Jets claimed Williams off waivers, and in 2023, he signed a three-year contract extension with the team. That year, Williams earned First-Team All-Pro honors.
Last season with the Jets, Williams played in 13 games, starting in 12, recording 83 total tackles, eight for loss, 3.5 sacks and seven passes defended.
Browns signing former Chargers offensive lineman
The Cleveland Browns added to their offensive line, a unit expected to face heavy turnover in free agency, by agreeing to terms with free agent guard Zion Johnson, who was with the Los Angeles Chargers previously.
Johnson, 26, agreed to a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Browns, league sources confirmed to News 5.
The Chargers originally selected the 6’3,” 316-pound lineman with the 17th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and named the team’s starting right guard as a rookie. He was moved to left guard in 2023, where he’s stayed since. Last season, Johnson played 1,071 snaps, allowing three sacks, seven hits and 26 pressures, per Pro Football Focus stats.
Browns trade for versatile lineman
Before free agency began, the Cleveland Browns got to work adding talent by agreeing to a trade to acquire offensive lineman Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans.
RELATED: Sources: Browns trading for Texans starting offensive lineman Tytus Howard
Here is a tracker of Browns players set to hit free agency and where they head next. This will be updated as moves are made this offseason.
Browns bring back special teams corner
The Browns struck a deal with cornerback Tre Avery, re-signing the unrestricted free agent, league sources confirmed to News 5.
Avery signed with the Browns' practice squad last fall, and once on the active roster, became a strong contributor for the team, especially on special teams. He took 54 snaps in punt coverage and 42 snaps, with 11 kick coverage snaps and two snaps on kick return. He made six special teams tackles and assisted on two.
Browns re-sign punter
There were few players more active last season than Browns punter Corey Bojorquez, to the dismay of the offense, of course.
Set to be a free agent this offseason, the team struck a deal to re-sign the specialist, league sources confirmed, and Bojorquez himself posted on Instagram.
Bojorquez signed with Cleveland in 2022 and has played in 67 games, booting 328 punts with a 48.2 yards per punt average. Bojorquez has pinned 113 punts inside the 20 during his time with the Browns. Last season's 91 punts were a career high for Bojorquez and a league high across punters for the year.
New special teams coordinator Byron Storer spoke highly of the punter during his introductory press conference earlier this month.
"I do want to say, though, that for Corey, that I respect the four years that he's been here and what he's done here for Cleveland Browns and as I go through this building and I ask people about him, there's nothing but good things that they've said about him. So, I really respect the player," Storer said.
Browns re-sign guard
The Browns, continuing their focus to build out the offensive line, brought back one of their own in the trenches, re-signing guard Teven Jenkins.
Jenkins, 28, signed with the Browns as a free agent last offseason, coming from the Chicago Bears. Jenkins played in all 17 games last season with Cleveland, starting in four games at right guard, providing the Browns depth on the line that was plagued by injuries.
Last season, Pro Football Focus stats did not attribute any sacks or penalties to Jenkins and credited him for just two allowed hits and 14 allowed pressures.
Browns tender six players
At the start of free agency, the Browns tendered six exclusive rights free agents on the team, including standout kicker Andre Szmyt.
RELATED: Browns tender 6 exclusive rights free agents, including K Andre Szmyt
As the Browns continue to explore free agency and perhaps more trades, the moves now will shape what decisions the team makes in just a few short weeks at the NFL Draft, where the Browns hold the following picks (only the first three rounds are locked in; the order after that is subject to change based on compensatory picks):
- Round 1 – Pick 6
- Round 1 – Pick 24 (from Jacksonville 2025 draft day trade)
- Round 2 — Pick No. 39
- Round 3 — Pick No. 70
- Round 4
- Round 5
- Round 5 (from Cincinnati in 2025 QB Joe Flacco trade)
- Round 6 (from Chicago in 2025 DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka trade)
- Round 7 (from Seattle in 2024 C Nick Harris trade)
The 2026 NFL Draft begins on April 23.
