Browns NFL free agency outlook: Available salary cap space to spend
· Yahoo Sports
As the Cleveland Browns get set for NFL free agency, they are going to have to get creative with the salary cap. As it stands, the Browns are currently $16 million in the red after the trade for offensive tackle Tytus Howard.
Visit milkshake.it.com for more information.
This is not as damning as it seems on paper, however. The Browns and Howard have already agreed to a three-year contract extension. So while his base is currently sitting at $17 million, expect that number to drop to the veteran minimum. This is how the Browns structure the first year of all of their new contracts. That will bring the Browns back to even on the salary cap.
You may think that sitting even after the Howard extension goes through is not an encouraging sign. Have no fear, the Browns can clear around $65 million in cap space in 2026. Here is how:
How the Browns can clear cap space ahead of NFL free agency
However, the pending decision of guard Joel Bitonio will give the Browns clearance one way or the other. He currently carries a cap number of $23 million in void dollars. If he re-ups with the Browns for another season, his base number will substantially drop, his void years will be kicked deeper into a rising cap, and the Browns will see a substantial relief on their cap number. If he retires, The OBR's Jack Duffin hypothesizes that Bitonio will actually re-sign for a veteran minimum year, then retire after June 1 to spread the dead money owed in void years over two years instead of one.
This would clear another $15 million in cap space for the Browns, even if he hangs up his cleats.
The Browns can also easily restructure the contract of cornerback Denzel Ward. This will clear about $15 million in cap space for the team. Of course, the contract of quarterback Deshaun Watson will be restructured again, and that will give the Browns a substantial amount of cap relief (around $34 million to be exact). Add in the minimal money the Browns will get from Watson's insurance policy as well, and the team will have more than enough to operate in free agency.
If the Browns restructure Ward and Watson, as they likely will do, and if Bitonio retires, the Browns will have cleared around $65 million in cap space to work around with. The Browns like to carry over around $20 million to $30 million in cap space, but that still gives them $35 million to $45 million to spend this year. That is ample space considering every signing will likely carry a base salary of the veteran minimum, as they typically do.
General Manager Andrew Berry has stated that he expects the Browns to have ample spending room, and he isn't lying.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns NFL free agency outlook: Available salary cap space to spend