The Cleveland Browns continued a busy offseason by adding 10 players in the 2026 NFL Draft, and, for all intents and purposes, it seems the front office assembled one of the best draft classes in the league. The Browns attacked the offensive side of the ball while also adding key defenders who will help keep that unit in tip-top shape.
There are still holes on Cleveland’s roster that need to be filled, which has led the team to turn its attention back to free agency for the time being. In an effort to further aid their rushing attack, the Browns decided to shore up the fullback position, which has led to them making a move involving a former Super Bowl champion, Michael Burton.
Browns Sign Michael Burton in Free Agency
The Browns didn’t have much going for them on offense last season, but if there was one thing that worked for them, it was their rushing attack. While it wasn’t always perfect, the team’s rookie duo of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson flashed their potential, and with a revamped offense, there’s reason to believe they both can take a step forward in 2026.
Having a fullback working as a lead blocker in front of them could help open up even more running lanes in power concepts, which led the team to check out Burton. Initially a fifth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft with the Detroit Lions, Burton has spent 11 years in the NFL, with the biggest achievement of his career seeing him win Super Bowl LVII with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Burton spent the past three seasons with the Denver Broncos, although he didn’t play at all in 2025 thanks to a hamstring injury. Known primarily for his blocking, Burton is precisely the sort of guy who could help take Cleveland’s rushing attack to another level, which is why the front office signed him in free agency on Tuesday.
“Browns signed former Broncos FB Michael Burton,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in a post on X.
Browns Hoping Michael Burton Can Add Another Element to Rushing Attack
GettyMichael Burton #20 of the Denver Broncos takes the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Throughout his career, Burton has just 42 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns, while also racking up 31 receptions for 196 yards and two more scores. His value goes beyond the counting statistics for the Browns, though. If he can make life easier for Judkins and Sampson on the ground, while also helping out in pass protection every once in a while, Burton could carve out a unique role for himself on offense.
There’s no guarantee that Burton will make Cleveland’s final roster, but if he proves he can be an effective weapon on offense, the coaching staff will have no reason but to keep him. Nobody knows what Burton will look like after he missed the entire 2025 season, but if he can pick up where he left off with the Broncos, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him become a sneaky important piece of the team’s offense.
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