The middle of March isn’t just when the weather, usually, starts to crawl out of the winter malaise. It’s when NFL teams start to repurpose their rosters for the upcoming season.
The Browns, like the other 31 teams, will be able to start to truly add outside help with the opening of free agency this week. It starts with the start of the negotiation period at noon March 9.
No deals that get agreed upon, either in free agency or in a trade, can 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:
Monday, March 9, updates
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: Cleveland Browns news, free agency updates as NFL signings, trades begin
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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