ClutchPoints
The Cleveland Browns will face some tough roster decisions in 2025. Every franchise must weigh salary cap constraints, roster depth, and player performance when making personnel changes. As such, Cleveland may find itself in a position where it has to part ways with a key veteran. One surprising name that could be on the chopping block? Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. Sure, he has been a dependable presence along the Browns’ defensive front. However, financial realities and evolving roster priorities may lead the team to move on from Tomlinson after just two seasons in Cleveland.
Cleveland’s 2024 season was a rollercoaster—one that, in hindsight, may have been avoidable. A year prior, the Browns had been one of the league’s biggest success stories. They rallied behind veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who improbably led them to the playoffs after being signed off the street in November. With Deshaun Watson sidelined due to a season-ending shoulder injury, Flacco’s steady presence helped Cleveland close out the regular season with a 4-1 finish. That was complemented by the NFL’s top-ranked defense spearheaded by Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. Though the Browns fell short against the Texans in the postseason, they entered 2024 with legitimate playoff aspirations.
Unfortunately, the 2024 campaign went the complete opposite direction. Deshaun Watson’s return did not go as planned. He struggled with accuracy, missed open receivers, and looked unsettled in the pocket. In his seven starts, Cleveland failed to score more than 20 points in any game. Watson finished dead last in QBR (23.5), trailing even Titans rookie Will Levis (27.0). Unsurprisingly, the offense never found its rhythm.
Veteran guard Joel Bitonio noted the Cleveland offense’s identity crisis. The result was an inconsistent unit that failed to maximize its talent. Regardless of whether the Browns managed to return to the postseason or fell short, they entered the 2025 offseason with serious decisions to make regarding their roster and salary cap. This sets the stage for potential high-profile departures.
Here we’ll try to identify the Cleveland Browns player who could be the team’s surprise roster cut in the 2025 NFL offseason.
The Browns appear poised to make a bold move in the 2025 NFL Draft—one that does not involve selecting a quarterback. Instead, all signs point to the team prioritizing the eventual successor to Myles Garrett. Ys, the Browns’ front office has been scrutinized for a series of questionable decisions in recent years. That said, they have consistently demonstrated a willingness to think big.
One particularly intriguing scenario could unfold after the draft, where Cleveland designates Garrett as a post–June 1 trade candidate. They could strategically spread out dead cap charges and maximize financial flexibility. Such a move would arm the franchise with the resources to make an even bigger play down the line—one that could involve landing a top-tier quarterback prospect with deep ties to ownership. Aside from trading Garrett, the Browns could move another critical part of their defense....
