The Cleveland Browns bolstered their depth on the defensive side of the ball Wednesday, signing veteran safety Daniel Thomas as the team continues to round out its roster heading into the 2026 season.
Thomas, 27, brings six years of NFL experience to Cleveland, spending his first five seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars before signing with the Detroit Lions last August. Contract terms were not immediately disclosed.
Thomas was a fifth-round pick out of Auburn in the 2020 NFL Draft, selected 157th overall by Jacksonville. He never carved out a long-term starting role at the NFL level, but has a reputation as one of the more reliable special teams contributors in the league.
Over his six NFL seasons, Thomas has logged 75 games and accumulated 73 combined tackles, one interception, and two pass deflections. Where he’s made his living is on special teams, where he averaged nearly 240 snaps per season over his first five years in the league.
His campaign last season with Detroit hit a speed bump when he landed on injured reserve in Week 3 with a forearm injury, eventually undergoing surgery. He was activated in November and returned to action before the Lions’ playoff run.
Browns Have Srong Options at Safety
Cleveland’s addition of Thomas is a depth and special teams move. He’s not expected to play into the starting equation on the defensive side of the ball. The Browns are returning both starting safeties in Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman.
The Browns retained Hickman on a right-of-first-refusal tender worth approximately $3.52 million, giving Cleveland the ability to match any offer sheet he signs with another team. Unlike a higher-level tender, no draft compensation comes back to the Browns if they decline to match. The undrafted Ohio State product turned in a breakout 2025 campaign, starting all 17 games and setting career highs with 100 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes defensed.
Hickman figures to reprise his role alongside strong safety Grant Delpit, who is entering his sixth season in Cleveland. Delpit’s ability to roam and serve as a Swiss Army knife on the back end has been possible in part because of Hickman’s steadiness.
But Thomas will be valuable for a special teams unit that will retool under new coordinator Byron Storer. Thomas has lined up on kickoff coverage, kick return, punt coverage, punt return, and field goal and extra point block units throughout his career.
Browns’ Offseason Defense Additions
The Browns have largely directed their offseason spending toward rebuilding a battered offensive line, adding guard Zion Johnson on a three-year deal, center/guard Elgton Jenkins on a two-year deal, and tackle Tytus Howard via trade from Houston.
While the Browns have mostly focused on the offensive side of the ball in free agency, they did sign linebacker Quincy Williams to a two-year deal worth up to $17 million. He replaces Devin Bush, who departed for the Chicago Bears. Williams had a unique way of describing his style of play.
“(Like) a cheetah chasing a gazelle when he first wakes up,” Williams said. “My mindset is be there before the ball gets there or be there before the runner or receiver knows you’re there. The only way I can do that is by my preparation. That’s making sure the game plan is right, making sure I know where I need to be, making sure I know where my teammates are too. So, I know what plays I can take and what shots I can take.”
The Browns also added defensive tackle Kalia Davis, who started 17 games for the San Francisco 49ers last season.
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