The Cleveland Browns already cleaned house on the coaching staff, and the new regime is about to undertake the same process with regards to the offense.
Guard Joel Bitonio has been a member of the Browns’ offensive line all 12 years of his NFL career, earning Pro Bowl nods seven times and All-Pro honors in five straight campaigns (2018-22). However, he has seen postseason action only twice and experienced just a single playoff victory in what will probably end up a Hall of Fame career.
Cleveland’s O-line finished second-to-last in overall rating in 2025, per Pro Football Focus, and Bitonio — while still talented — is nearing the sunset of his career.
Several league analysts and/or team insiders have offered their expectations that Bitonio will not be part of the franchise next season, should he remain in the NFL at all. The most recent such incidence from the proverbial pen of ESPN’s Aaron Schatz on Wednesday, February 18 when he named Bitonio the Browns player most in need of a change of scenery.
“Bitonio is still a top-caliber guard in the league, but he deserves to play for a winner before his career is over,” Schatz wrote. “Bitonio is a free agent this offseason, and he makes a lot of sense as a one-year plug-in for a playoff contender that needs an upgrade at the position. Could we interest coach Jim Harbaugh and the [Los Angeles] Chargers?”
Browns Pushed Back Void Date on Joel Bitonio’s Contract This Week
GettyLeft guard Joel Bitonio of the Cleveland Browns.
Bitonio and the team made a significant call on Tuesday as his free agency approaches.
“The Browns and Joel Bitonio agreed to push the void date back on his contract until the end of the league year in March, according to a source,” Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reported on X. “It gives Bitonio about three more weeks to decide on his future. The previous deadline was yesterday.”
Had the move not been made, a hit of more than $23 million would have inextricably attached itself to the team’s 2026 salary cap sheet. Jack Duffin of the Orange and Brown Report speculated that Bitonio was likely headed to a new team in the final hours before the contract voided, as he had not announced his retirement or agreed to an extension.
That changed when the Browns pushed back the void date, but only moved the timeline of the decision out into mid-March. The likelihood remains that Bitionio will either play elsewhere in 2026 or retire rather than return to the Browns on an eight-figure contract for a season in which Cleveland is rebuilding with young players and unlikely to contend.
Browns Prioritizing Offensive Line Additions in NFL Draft
GettyGeneral manager Andrew Berry of the Cleveland Browns.
Revamping the offensive line appears it will be the top priority of new Browns head coach Todd Monken and longtime general manager Andrew Berry come draft time.
Daniel Jeremiah of of NFL.com released his latest mock draft this week, in which he predicted that the Browns will use both of their first-round picks (Nos. 6 and 24) on offensive tackles.
“This draft would be a big success for the Browns if they landed two starting offensive linemen, as they do in this scenario with [Monroe] Freeling joining Spencer Fano,” Jeremiah wrote. “If Dawand Jones stays healthy, I think Fano could play inside.”
The addition of more young talent to the offensive line makes it less likely that Cleveland will spend to keep Bitionio on the roster, as he doesn’t fit even the Browns’ most optimistic contention timeline.
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