The Cleveland Browns were active in NFL free agency this offseason as they look to transform their defensive unit. There are, however, a great deal of those defensive players who will be free agents after the season. This includes the likes of pass rusher Za’Darius Smith and safety Grant Delpit.
Not every free agent is the same level of attainable to retain as there are three different types of free agents. Here are the three different types of NFL free agent and their definitions straight from the NFL’s website:
“Unrestricted free agent (UFA): Any player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract; free to negotiate and sign with any team.
Restricted free agent (RFA): A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers (“tenders”) that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation. If the tender is withdrawn by a team, the RFA becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Exclusive rights free agent (ERFA): Any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.”
All in all, the Browns are set to see 38 players enter free agency after the 2023 season. Here are those 38 players and the type of free agent they will be.
DE Za'Darius Smith
Unrestricted free agent
LB Sione Takitaki
Unrestricted free agent
QB Joshua Dobbs
Unrestricted free agent
S Grant Delpit
Unrestricted free agent
TE Harrison Bryant
Unrestricted free agent
WR Marquise Goodwin
Unrestricted free agent
DT Jordan Elliott
Unrestricted free agent
P Corey Bojorquez
Unrestricted free agent
WR Jakeem Grant
Unrestricted free agent
CB Mike Ford
Unrestricted free agent
CB A.J. Green
Unrestricted free agent
S Rodney McLeod
Unrestricted free agent
LB Jordan Kunaszyk
Unrestricted free agent
DT Trysten Hill
Unrestricted free agent
LB Anthony Walker Jr.
Unrestricted free agent
LB Matthew Adams
Unrestricted free agent
DT Maurice Hurst
Unrestricted free agent
LB Jacob Phillips
Unrestricted free agent
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
Unrestricted free agent
C Nick Harris
Unrestricted free agent
OG Wes Martin
Unrestricted free agent
OG Colby Gossett
Unrestricted free agent
RB John Kelly
Unrestricted free agent
OG Michael Dunn
Unrestricted free agent
CB Thomas Graham Jr.
Exclusive rights free agent
P Joseph Charlton
Restricted free agent
DT Michael Dwumfour
Exclusive rights free agent
DE Sam Kamara
Exclusive rights free agent
RB Nate McCrary
Exclusive rights free agent
CB Chris Westry
Unrestricted free agent
WR Ra'Shaun Henry
Exclusive rights free agent
WR Daylen Baldwin
Exclusive rights free agent
OT Hunter Thedford
Exclusive rights free agent
OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Exclusive rights free agent
S Bubba Bolden
Exclusive rights free agent
WR Mike Harley
Exclusive rights free agent
TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
Exclusive rights free agent
OG Drew Forbes
Unrestricted free agent
