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Browns Make 19 Roster Cuts

August 24th, 2025 at 5:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The first of the Browns’ 53-man roster moves came to light this afternoon with the release of veterans Tyler Huntley and Tony Brown. Cleveland then made the following 19 cuts, per a team announcement:

Released:

Waived:

Barton started two games at right tackle for the Cardinals in 2024, but he couldn’t win a backup job in Cleveland this summer. Needham, who appeared in 63 games for the Dolphins over the last six years, similarly had a shot at a nickel role in the Browns defense, but the team opted to keep their younger cornerbacks instead. The two veterans are free to sign with any team, while the other 17 cuts will be subject to waivers.

Among them are Henry and Rush, two 2023 fifth-rounders who made their way to Cleveland this offseason after failing to catch on with their original clubs. Henry started three games for the Commanders as a rookie, but was waived under Washington’s new regime last August. He spent time with the Bengals and the Cowboys before landing with the Eagles in November and finishing the season as a Super Bowl champion. Rush was a fringe third-round pick in 2023 but fell to the Colts on Day 3. He didn’t make the 53-man roster as a rookie and bounced between Kansas City and Pittsburgh across his first two seasons with five regular-season appearances for the Steelers.

Browns Release QB Tyler Huntley, CB Tony Brown

August 24th, 2025 at 2:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Among the Browns’ first moves toward a 53-man roster is the expected departure of Tyler Huntley. The veteran quarterback is being released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

In addition, Schefter notes veteran corner Tony Brown is being let go. Neither move (both of which are now official) comes as a surprise, of course. Huntley in particular has long been seen as a prime candidate to be released given Cleveland’s commitment to carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster.

Joe Flacco will handle starting duties to begin the 2025 campaign, while veteran Kenny Pickett is set to remain in the fold. Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are not in danger of being cut or traded, meaning Huntley’s departure represents an expected outcome. The 27-year-old has been with Cleveland for two stints, but he has yet to make a regular season appearance for the team.

Huntley will now hit the open market in search of a backup or third-string opportunity elsewhere. He has made 14 starts in his career, including five last season as an injury replacement for the Dolphins. A return to Miami should not be expected in 2025, but other gigs should be available in the near future.

Brown, 30, spent time with the Packers, Bengals and Colts before his debut Cleveland campaign. The former UDFA made six appearances for the Browns in 2024, playing exclusively on special teams along the way. After logging an 81% snap share in that capacity, his absence could be felt this season. Barring a spot on Cleveland’s practice squad, Brown will join Huntley in seeking out a new team in time for Week 1.

No guaranteed money was included in either players’ pact. As a result, Cleveland will create roughly $2MM in cap savings with these moves without any dead money charges being generated.

NFL Roster Updates: Doubs, Lazard, Smith, Ward, Bush

August 22nd, 2025 at 7:57pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur emphatically shut down rumors that wide receiver Romeo Doubs wouldn’t make the team’s 53-man roster.

“I’d be very shocked if he was going anywhere,” LaFleur told Kay Adams during an Up & Adams appearance on Thursday.

When asked again if Doubs would be cut, LaFleur responded, “No. That will not happen.” 

The uncertainty surrounding the fourth-year wideout stems from the Packers’ depth at the position after adding Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in April’s draft. However, LaFleur noted that the team was “missing a lot of guys,” namely returning starters Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Watson, coming off an ACL tear in January, is expected to begin the year on the PUP list, while a sprained foot may sideline Reed for the beginning of the regular season. Williams (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) also missed practice on Tuesday, per ESPN.

As a result, Doubs’ roster spot is safe. Judging by LaFleur’s comments, he would’ve made the team even with a healthy receiver room.

“‘Rome’ is out there competing and doing everything that we need to see from him,” said LaFleur. “And obviously he’s played a lot of ball for us, and at a high level. He’s been a great teammate, he goes out there and you can count on him every day.”

Here are a few other updates on key roster situations around the league:

Saints, Browns, Chiefs Seeking RB Trade

August 21st, 2025 at 11:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

As Wednesday illustrated (on several occasions), this time on the NFL calendar often breeds trades. The countdown to final roster cuts continues, and further swaps could be coming soon as a result.

Running back could be a position to watch on the trade front. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports the Saints, Browns and Chiefs have each been making calls about an addition at that spot. This comes at a time when Commanders back Brian Robinson is known to be available.

No specific suitors have been tied to Robinson yet, but any number of teams could show interest in the pending 2026 free agent. If any of New Orleans, Cleveland or Kansas City were to do so, a swap would become something to watch for in advance of Week 1. The three teams have varying needs regarding a backfield addition.

The Saints will once again have Alvin Kamara leading the way in 2025. A new deal signed last summer has the five-time Pro Bowler on the books for another two years, and $3MM of his base salary for next season is already guaranteed. Any new arrival would be viewed as a backup option amongst the likes of Kendre Miller and free agent additions Cam Akers and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

The Browns elected not to retain Nick Chubb this offseason, and he eventually joined the Texans on the open market. Cleveland’s backfield will once again involved Jerome Ford on a regular basis, and second-round rookie Quinshon Judkins is expected to be available during the regular season. Domestic violence charges were recently dropped against the Ohio State product, presumably paving the way for him to sign his rookie deal (although a league investigation is ongoing). Cleveland also has returnee Pierre Strong along with fourth-rounder Dylan Sampson in the backfield.

The Chiefs still have Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt atop their RB depth chart entering 2025. Pacheco was limited to seven regular season contests last year, and when on the field he averaged by far the lowest yards per carry average (3.7) of his three-year career. One season remains on Pacheco’s rookie contract, and Hunt is also a pending free agent. Kansas City added Elijah Mitchell in free agency on a one-year deal, so any trade could be aimed at adding a more permanent backfield presence. It is uncommon, however, for players with multiple years left on their contracts to be dealt at this time.

Each of New Orleans (roughly $20.5MM in cap space), Cleveland ($19MM) and Kansas City ($17MM) could easily afford a rental addition in the backfield. Over the coming days, it will be interesting to see if one of more of those teams executes a trade acquisition.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/21/25

August 21st, 2025 at 9:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: CB Bruce Harmon

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Out for most of the Panthers’ preseason workouts due to offseason back surgery, Tremble can begin ramping up in earnest for Week 1. A debut on time will be the goal, Dave Canales said Thursday. Tremble re-signed with Carolina on a two-year, $10.5MM deal this offseason.

Brown joined the 49ers after starting 10 Seahawks games from 2023-24. The team had aimed for the former fourth-round pick to play a backup role this season, but he instead has become the corresponding move following the Skyy Moore trade. The team has ex-Colts starter Dallis Flowers and preseason standout Chase Lucas as options, while veteran Fabian Moreau is in the mix as well.

Harris joins the Commanders after starting six Browns games from 2020-24. Harris had signed with the Seahawks last year, before being traded back to Cleveland ahead of Week 1. He ended up on the Browns’ IR list by October. Harris, 26, worked out for the Saints earlier this month. Watson suffered a biceps tear, according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. The Browns drafted Watson in the 2024 sixth round; he played 14 games and made one start as a rookie.

Browns Trade DT Jowon Briggs To Jets

August 20th, 2025 at 2:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the roster-setting deadline less than a week away, a key NFL trade window is open. After two deals occurred Sunday, an intra-AFC swap is done. The Browns and Jets have a deal in place.

Cleveland is trading defensive tackle Jowon Briggs to New York, the Browns announced. It is a pick-swap deal, one that will send Briggs and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Jets for a 2026 sixth-rounder.

[RELATED: NFL Trades Completed In 2025]

A 2024 seventh-round pick, Briggs played in six Browns games as a backup last season. The Ohio native made 13 tackles (one for loss) and recovered a fumble as a rookie, playing 133 defensive snaps and 33 special teams plays. This will give the Jets another backup option in their Quinnen Williams-led D-tackle corps.

Briggs played two seasons at Virginia and three at Cincinnati, combining to register 12 sacks during his five-year college run. He earned first-team All-AAC acclaim in 2022 and then was a Big 12 honorable mention honoree — after the Bearcats’ 2023 conference switch — in ’23. He started seven games as a true freshman at Virginia in 2019, making 14 total Cavaliers starts after arriving as a four-star recruit.

The Jets let 2024 starter Javon Kinlaw walk in free agency (to the Commanders) and did not allocate many resources to this position this offseason. The team has ex-Chiefs nose tackle Derrick Nnadi, former Washington second-rounder Phidarian Mathis (claimed during the period between Joe Douglas‘ firing and the Darren Mougey hire), and journeymen Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele as DT options. The team did not address this position in the draft.

These lower-level trades regularly emerge during the days just before teams’ set their initial 53-man rosters; the Browns made one involving a DT last year, sending Chris Williams to the Bears. The Browns cut Dalvin Tomlinson this offseason but made DT the centerpiece of their draft by using the No. 5 overall pick on Mason Graham. That move came after the Maliek Collins signing. Cleveland also has 2024 second-round pick Michael Hall rostered to go with veteran Shelby Harris.

Browns Name Joe Flacco Starting QB

August 18th, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

To little surprise, Joe Flacco will begin the 2025 season atop the depth chart. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Monday that the 41-year-old will handle starting duties in Week 1.

Flacco has long been seen as the top option for Cleveland. Injuries have been a problem for fellow veteran Kenny Pickett but also rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, leading to missed reps during training camp. Even if all four contenders had been fully available, it still would have been seen as something of an upset for anyone but Flacco to get the early nod.

Midway through the 2023 season, Flacco joined the Browns and quickly found himself handling QB1 duties. The former Super Bowl MVP helped lead the team to a 4-1 finish down the stretch and qualify for the playoffs. That track record of success and a familiarity with Stefanski’s scheme were factors weighing heavily in Flacco’s favor during training camp. After the 191-game starter received the majority of first-team reps in camp, signs pointed heavily to Stefanski’s expected announcement confirming this QB setup to begin the year.

Pickett was seen as a contender to earn the nod ahead of camp, but a hamstring injury hindered his chances of genuinely pushing for the QB1 gig. The former Steelers first-rounder was traded to the Eagles last offseason and spent 2024 as Jalen Hurts‘ backup. The trade sending him to Cleveland was understandably followed by the decision to decline his fifth-year option. As a result, the 27-year-old enters this season as a pending free agent. Doing so as a backup (at best) is certainly an unwelcomed development from his perspective.

Gabriel and Sanders have flashed potential during the preseason, and their respective development will be a key storyline for Cleveland in 2025. Gabriel drew trade interest immediately after being drafted in the third round, but despite adding Sanders on Day 3 the Browns elected to retain him. Given the presence of Flacco and Pickett at that point, questions were raised about the possibility of all four signal-callers being kept on the active roster. General manager Andrew Berry has consistently maintained he is willing to take that route.

Indeed, the latest update on that front indicated Cleveland would carry each member of the Flacco-Pickett-Gabriel-Sanders quartet on the 53-man roster following cutdowns. Deshaun Watson is expected to miss the season while recovering from his second Achilles tear, while recent addition Tyler Huntley is a candidate to be released after filling in as a healthy option under center as needed. That will not bring an end to discussions about how the Browns should proceed under center, of course.

Struggles on the part of the team in general and Flacco in particular will no doubt lead to increased calls for a change under center. Turning to one (or both) of the rookies over the course of the season could lead to valuable evaluations concerning their long-term viability as potential starters. For now, though, Flacco is set to meet his goal of playing into his 40s. That will include at least a stretch in the starting spot to open his 18th NFL season.

No Trey Hendrickson Trade Imminent; Bengals’ Asking Price Has Dropped?

August 18th, 2025 at 10:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

The last few days have brought a flurry of updates regarding Trey Hendrickson‘s persisting standoff with the Bengals, though there seems to be no real progress regarding contract or trade talks

Hendrickson and the Bengals reached an agreement on the length and value of an extension weeks ago, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. However, the team still refuses to guarantee money beyond the 2025 season, which has been one of the All-Pro edge rusher’s demands all along. Hendrickson confirmed the state of negotiations as described by Pelissero to ESPN’s Laura Rutledge during Monday Night Football coverage of the Bengals-Commanders preseason game (via ESPN’s Ben Baby).

Rutledge also reported that there has been no movement on a potential trade, likely due to the Bengals’ high asking price. They rejected an offer of “a second-round pick and change,” before the draft, per Pelissero, preferring a first-rounder instead. He added that the price has “softened, or at least changed a little bit,” explaining that Cincinnati is now asking for a draft pick and a young impact player to help offset the loss of Hendrickson this year.

However, that does not gel with a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who says that teams who checked in with the Bengals regarding a Hendrickson trade were given an asking price of a 2026 first-round pick and a young defensive player. That player does not necessarily have to be a pass rusher.

Despite an early report that the Browns were interested in trading for Hendrickson, Cleveland is not “seriously pursuing” the NFL’s reigning sack leader, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. The Patriots, however, have called about Hendrickson, per Outkick’s Armando Salguero, though putting together a package that meets the Bengals’ requirements may be difficult this close to the season.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.

Browns Sign WR Isaiah Bond

August 18th, 2025 at 8:28am CST by Rory Parks

AUGUST 18: The Bond deal is now official, and Cabot reports the pact is worth a fully guaranteed $3.02MM. Bond is expected to take part in practice Tuesday as he looks to carve out a role in Cleveland’s receiver room in time for the regular season.

AUGUST 17: Former Alabama and Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond arrived in Cleveland on Saturday and is set to sign a three-year contract with the Browns, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Bond played under current Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees in 2023, when Rees was working as the Crimson Tide’s OC and quarterbacks coach.

Bond, 21, was viewed as a Day 2 prospect in this year’s draft and arranged a number of visits with interested clubs. In early April, however, he was arrested on sexual assault charges, and he went undrafted as a result.

Bond, who played in Tuscaloosa for two seasons before transferring to Austin for the 2024 slate, steadfastly denied the allegations and even filed a defamation suit against his accuser, which was recently dismissed (via ESPN). On Thursday, as detailed in an ESPN report, the Collin County (Texas) District Attorney’s office announced that a grand jury had returned a “no-bill,” meaning there will be no indictment or further criminal proceedings. 

Shortly after the DA’s announcement, Bond took to social media to declare he was going to sign with the Browns. While ESPN’s Adam Schefter cautioned no deal had been finalized, Cabot previously reported Bond would be flying to Cleveland on Saturday and was expected to sign a contract.

Assuming he does put pen to paper, Bond will join a Browns WR corps that could use a jolt. The unit is fronted by Jerry Jeudy, who earned his first Pro Bowl bid last year after Cleveland acquired him in a March 2024 trade with the Broncos. Behind Jeudy and presumptive WR2 Cedric Tillman sit the likes of Jamari Thrash – a 2024 fifth-rounder who caught just three passes last year – journeyman and return specialist DeAndre Carter, and Diontae Johnson (who only attracted interest from the Browns this offseason after a tumultuous 2024 campaign). David Bell is presently on the NFI list.

Of course, even if Bond had been selected in the second or third round of the draft and was able to participate in all of the Browns’ spring work and training camp, he may not have been ready to handle a starter’s workload in the early stages of the regular season. As it stands, he is well behind the learning curve and will have a considerable amount of catching up to do.

And, while he will not face criminal charges, he is still subject to league discipline. League spokesman Brian McCarthy told Cabot the NFL is reviewing the matter, though it is unclear when a decision in that regard will be made.

When the dust settles, the Browns have reason to be optimistic. Bond’s college production does not jump off the page – he caught 99 balls for 1,428 yards and 10 touchdowns across 41 games between Alabama and Texas – but his speed (4.39 40-yard dash time), hands, and route-running are certainly intriguing and caught the attention of scouts around the league.

Bengals Listening To Trade Offers On DE Trey Hendrickson; Contract Talks Have Stalled

August 17th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Rory Parks

10:00pm: Cincinnati has been fielding calls on Hendrickson for weeks, Dehner and colleague Dianna Russini report. If the Bengals were to trade Hendrickson now, they likely would not land as valuable of a trade package as they would have if they had traded him before the draft. Clearly, no team has put forth an attractive enough offer as of yet.

12:20pm: Contract talks between the Bengals and defensive end Trey Hendrickson are at an impasse, per Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. As such, the club is again listening to trade offers for its star pass rusher.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz says the Panthers, Browns, and Colts are among the clubs that have expressed interest. Of course, an intra-division trade to Cleveland for a player of Hendrickson’s magnitude is unlikely, and Cincinnati is still setting a high asking price in trade talks. Per Schultz, the Bengals are seeking an impact player or two as well as a draft pick. A mutual interest still exists for this team-player relationship to continue, Schultz adds, but the same issues (namely guaranteed money) continue to represent a sticking point in negotiations. 

The Bengals’ offense was excellent in 2024, with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase both submitting MVP-caliber performances. Chase and running mate Tee Higgins were re-signed this offseason, and the team also returns promising running back Chase Brown, so points should not be terribly difficult to come by.

However, the team’s woeful defense undermined the efforts of Burrow & Co., and Cincinnati ultimately failed to qualify for the postseason. That is despite the presence of Hendrickson, who recorded 17.5 sacks for the second year in a row and who earned First Team All-Pro acclaim. Given that continued elite production and the upward movement of the EDGE market, any new Bengals accord will include a substantial raise if one can indeed be worked out before Week 1.

The Bengals did add a potential impact pass rusher, Shemar Stewart, in the first round of April’s draft, and Stewart is now in the fold after unusual contract talks of his own became a basis for criticism directed at the organization. Still, it is unclear whether Cincinnati did enough this offseason to significantly improve its defense, and subtracting Hendrickson from the equation would seem to make matters more difficult for new defensive coordinator Al Golden.

As such, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer is skeptical that the Bengals are serious about moving Hendrickson, and Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic does not believe the situation has changed. He does not think the club, through today’s reports, is trying to drum up trade interest, and he continues to believe it is unlikely a rival team will meet Cincinnati’s asking price and pony up a massive extension for Hendrickson.

As things stand, the 30-year-old is owed $16MM in 2025, the final year of his pact. Hendrickson has stated a willingness to sit out regular season games in the absence of an extension. Time remains for an agreement to be reached, but before authorizing any major raise, the Bengals will once again field trade offers.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

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