NFL teams have started their mid-March ritual of repurposing their rosters for the upcoming season.
All 32 NFL teams, including the Browns, will be able to start to truly add outside help with the opening of free agency this week. It started with the start of the negotiation period at noon March 9.
All deals that get agreed upon, either in free agency or in a trade, can’t become official until the new league year begins. That happens at 4 p.m. March 11.
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Follow along here throughout the remainder of March for Browns news and reports on what they do in the player acquisition market:
Wednesday, March 11, updates
Browns tender RFA safety Ronnie Hickman
The Browns have tendered restricted free agent Ronnie Hickman. Team will have the right of first refusal if he agrees to a new contract with another team.
The tender does not come with draft-pick compensation. The typical contract for a player at this tender is between $3.26 million and $3.55 million.
Hickman was originally signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2023. In his three seasons, Hickman has started 26 of 41 career games. He has continued to develop in his role with the Browns and was a full-time starter in 2025 starting all 17 games. He also set career highs in tackles (100), interceptions (two) and passes defensed (seven) in 2025.
Hickman has recorded 173 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, 11 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, three interceptions and one touchdown over three seasons.
Browns agree to terms with veteran TE Jack Stoll
The Browns have added to their tight end group with a deal with veteran Jack Stoll on a one-year contract. Stoll spent the 2025 season with the New Orleans Saints.
Stoll has played in 76 games with three teams since coming into the league in 2021 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He has 28 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown in his career.
Colts, Daniel Jones get multi-year deal complete
Ravens go from backing out on Maxx Crosby to signing Trey Hendrickson
The Ravens said a failed physical was the reason why they went back on their agreement to send two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Some 14 hours later, Baltimore turns around and agrees with former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson on a four-year, $112 million deal.
What moves have Cleveland Browns made over 1st 2 days of free agency?
Here’s what the Browns have done in the pre-league year portion of the player movement period. None of the moves can become official until players pass physicals after new league year begins at 4 p.m. March 11.
Tuesday, March 10, updates
Failed physical leads Ravens to back out of Maxx Crosby deal with Raiders
Browns closing in on 2-year deal with former Packers C Elgton Jenkins
The Browns are closing in on a two-year deal with former Green Bay Packers center Elgton Jenkins, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. Jenkins, who’s 30, was recently released by the Packers with a failed physical designation due to a season-ending ankle injury suffered in the Packers’ ninth game.
Browns re-sign G Teven Jenkins
Guard Teven Jenkins has re-signed with the Browns, the team announced. He had originally signed with them last March, but was a free agent after the season.
New England Patriots get their WR in former Packer Romeo Doubs
The Patriots have landed their wide receiver, agreeing to a deal with former Green Bay Packer Romeo Doubs. The 25-year-old is getting a four-year deal with a maximum of $70 million.
Raiders trading QB Geno Smith to Jets, where he was drafted in 2013
Quarterback Geno Smith is going back to where it all began. The Las Vegas Raiders are trading the 35-year-old to the New York Jets, where he was a 2013 second-round pick who started 30 games over four seasons.
The two teams are basically flipping late-round picks in April’s draft.
Houston Texans sign former Colts T Braden Smith
The Texans are trading away one of their tackles, Tytus Howard, to the Browns. So to replace that hole, they’re stealing from one of their AFC South rivals.
Houston is signing former Indianapolis Colts tackle Braden Smih to a two-year deal. Smith takes the right tackle spot opened up by Howard’s departure.
Detroit Lions sign former Chiefs RB Isaiah Pacheco
The Lions traded away one half of their two-man running back tandem to the Houston Texans when they shipped David Montgomery there a week ago. More than a week later, they’ve found a new running mate to go with Jahmyr Gibbs with a one-year deal with former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isaiah Pacheco.
Bills give TE Dawson Knox new 3-year deal
The deals have been slow rolling in on the first morning of the free-agent negotation period. After Greg Newsome II’s deal with the Giants, the next one to happen was a new three-year deal from the Buffalo Bills to tight end Dawson Knox.
The new deal was a way to re-work Knox’s deal to keep him in Buffalo.
Former Browns 1st-round pick Greg Newsome II heads to Giants
The Browns flipped cornerback Greg Newsome II to the Jacksonville Jaguars in October for cornerback Tyson Campbell, with Newsome being on his fifth-year option. Newsome played out the rest of the season for the AFC South champion Jaguars.
Newsome, though, isn’t reamining with the Jaguars. Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the 2021 first-round draft pick is signing a one-year deal with the New Yorka Giants. Giants coach John Harbaugh is familiar with Newsome from his own days as the Baltimore Ravens head coach.
Browns among teams to drive up price for G Alijah Vera-Tucker, still after guards
The Browns ultimately agreed to a new deal with an offensive guard on the first day of the free-agent negotiation period, former Los Angeles Chargers left guard Zion Johnson. However, they were among the teams to drive up the cost the New England Patriots ultimately paid to sign former New York Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Cleveland and the New York Giants were the other teams that, according to The Athletic’s Diana Russini, were “aggressively in the mix” in pursuing Vera-Tucker. He ultimately agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal with the 2025 AFC champions despite having missed all of 2025 due to injury, and having only played in 43 games over the previous four seasons.
The Browns remain in the guard market ever after Johnson, 26, agreed to a three year, $49.5 million contract. Of that, $32.39 million is guaranteed including a $17 million signing bonus.
Outside of Johnson, the only true guards on the Browns’ 2026 roster currently are Zak Zinter and Kendrick Green, although Tytus Howard — who they’ve agreed to acquired from the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 139) — has also played substantially at the position. The Browns still await the decision of Joel Bitonio, whose contract voids at 4 p.m. March 10, on whether he will retire or play in 2026 in Cleveland or elsewhere.
Monday, March 9, updates
New England Patriots to sign former Jets G Alijah Vera-Tucker
Kansas City Chiefs to re-sign WR Tyquan Thornton
Carolina Panthers to sign former Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd
Arizona Cardinals to sign WR Kendrick Bourne
Browns to sign LB Quincy Williams to replace Devin Bush
The Browns are signing linebacker Quincy Williams, reuniting him with his former position coach, Mike Rutenberg, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. Williams played for Rutenberg while they were together with the New York Jets.
Kenny Pickett heading to Carolina as Bryce Young’s backup
Rashid Shaheed sticking with Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks
Travis Kelce, Chiefs reach agreement on new deal
Giants will bring back RT Jermaine Eluemeunor
Bengals sign former Seattle Seahawk edge rusher Boye Mafe
Jaguars willing to listen to trade offers for WR Brian Thomas Jr.
Gardner Minshew II signs deal with Arizona Cardinals
Tua Tagovailoa finds a new home with Atlanta Falcons
Titans load up on 1st day of NFL free agent negotiation period
TE Charlie Kolar signs deal with Los Angeles Chargers
Former Browns DE Cameron Thomas goes with Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta
Browns add guard Zion Johnson from Los Angeles Chargers
The Browns are signing guard Zion Johnson to a three-year, $49.5 million deal including $32.4 million guaranteed. Johnson is 6-foot-3, 316 pounds and a 2022 first-round pick.
Johnson starterd every game at left guard in 2025 for the Chargers.
Devin Bush leaving Browns to take 3-year deal with Chicago Bears
Former Bucs WR Mike Evans takes his talents to San Francisco
Ex-Eagles WR Jahan Dotson decides to fly with a different flock, going to Falcons
Raiders add another piece in ex-Vikings WR Jalen Nailor
Saints pull another one off the market in ex-Bills guard David Edwards
Wan’Dale Robinson leaving New York Giants to get payday with Tennessee Titans
Saints sign former Jaguars RB Travis Etienne
Tyler Linderbaum gets massive deal to leave Ravens for Raiders
Detroit Lions get their center in Cade Mays from Carolina
Baltimore Ravens sign guard John Simpson
Coby Bryant leaving Super Bowl-winning Seahawks for Chicago Bears
Kenneth Gainwell leaving Pittsburgh for Tampa Bay
LB Alex Anzalone leaves Detroit for Tampa Bay
TE Austin Hooper reunites with Kevin Stefanski with Atlanta Falcons
LB Demario Davis leaving Saints for New York Jets
TE Isaiah Likely reunited with former coach John Harbaugh with New York Giants
WR Michael Pittman Jr. gets new deal from Steelers after trade
Dolphins’ Packers-centric new regime lands QB Malik Willis
Steelers making trade for Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.
The Steelers are acquiring wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. from the Colts for a late-round pick swap. Pittman was a potential trade target for the Browns, but instead goes to their rivals in Pittsburgh.
Carolina Panthers signing edge rusher Jaelen Phillips
Kansas City Chiefs get deal with former Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III
New England Patriots sign Cleveland native, former Raven Dre’Mont Jones
WR Olamide Zaccheaus returns to former home in Atlanta
WR Alec Pierce off the market with new deal with Indianapolis Colts
Jets, Cowboys among teams working big trades early
Two trades are near agreement, if not completed, with less than three hours until the opening of the free-agent negotiation period. No trade can be official until 4 p.m. March 11.
Who are the notable quarterbacks on the free agent market?
Here are some of the notable quarterbacks who are expected to be on the market when it opens, listed alphabetically, along with their 2025 team and their current age. Also list are those known to be on the trade block, which are designated with an asterisk:
Miami Dolphins make QB Tua Tagovailoa a post-June 1 cut
The Miami Dolphins are in the quarterback market. There’s also another former first-round quarterback who’s out there as well.
The Dolphins are cutting Tua Tagovailoa, despite taking on $99 million in dead money just two years after a contract extension. Tagovailoa, according to OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald, would be one of two different kinds of post-June 1 release.
According to Fitzgerald, it depends on if Miami picks up the option bonus. There’s one path where Tagovailoa would be $67.4 million in dead money in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027, while the other way spreads it out more at $55.4 million and $43.8 million.
The former 2020 No. 5 overall pick out of the University of Alabama was 44-32 as a starter. He threw for 18,166 yards, 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions.
Sunday, March 8, updates
Who are the notable wide receivers available on free agent market?
Here are some of the notable wide receivers who are expected to be on the market when it opens, listed alphabetically, along with their 2025 team and their current age:
Who are the notable offensive tackles available on free agent market?
Here are some of the notable offensive tackles who are expected to be on the market when it opens, listed alphabetically, along with their 2025 team and their current age:
Who are the notable guards available on free agent market?
Here are some of the notable guards who are expected to be on the market when it opens, listed alphabetically, along with their 2025 team and their current age:
Who are the notable centers available on free agent market?
Here are some of the notable centers who are expected to be on the market when it opens, listed alphabetically, along with their 2025 team and their current age:
When can NFL teams starts negotiating with free agents?
Teams can legally begin negotiations with free agents at noon March 9.
What will NFL teams’ free agent deals and trades become official?
Nothing can become official until the new league year begins at 4 p.m. March 11.
How much salary cap room do the Cleveland Browns have entering free agency?
According to OverTheCap.com, the Browns have $15,804,433 in team cap space. That doesn’t include cap space that will open up when they use their two post-June 1 designations, nor does it include the adjustment that will happen when a new three-year extension for right tackle Tytus Howard — who the Browns have agreed to acquire from the Houston Texans — becomes official.
What are the Cleveland Browns’ biggest needs?
The Browns biggest needs going into the 2026 season are:
Who are the Cleveland Browns’ own unrestricted free agents?
The following Browns players will be unrestricted free agents in 2026:
Who are the Cleveland Browns’ own restricted free agents?
The following Browns players will be restricted free agents in 2026. If the Browns tender any of them, the player can either sign the tender sheet, work out a separate extension with the team or find his own deal with another team. If the Browns don’t match the other team’s offer to the player, they will be owed the draft pick corresponding to whatever round the player’s tender was in.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: NFL free agency Day 3 live tracker 2026, Browns news, updates and signings
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
