Cleveland Browns Offseason Reset: 5 Veterans Who Could Be on the Way Out
The Cleveland Browns are entering a pivotal offseason, and GM Andrew Berry isn’t mincing words-big changes are coming, especially on offense. After a 2025 campaign marred by injuries, inconsistency, and a near-bottom finish in offensive rankings, the writing’s on the wall: the Browns are about to undergo a serious roster shakeup.
And let’s be honest-no one’s shocked. The Browns' quarterback room was a revolving door, their receiving corps lacked punch, and the offensive line struggled to stay healthy or effective.
It’s no wonder the offense finished 31st in the league. But with a new head coach in Todd Monken and a promising young core in place, the Browns have a chance to turn the page.
That core includes tight end Harold Fannin, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, and a backfield duo of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. There’s real potential there. But in order to build around that foundation, Berry’s going to have to make some tough calls-starting with a few veterans whose time in Cleveland may be up.
Here are five Browns who could be shown the door this offseason:
1. TE David Njoku
There’s no questioning the love Browns fans have for David Njoku. He’s been a consistent presence, a locker-room leader, and a fan favorite. But sentiment doesn’t win games, and in a league governed by the salary cap, tough decisions are part of the business.
Njoku’s contract situation is complicated. A 2023 restructure added four void years to create cap space, and now that deal is set to void at the start of the 2026 league year-leaving the Browns with a potential $24 million dead cap hit if they don’t act decisively.
With Harold Fannin emerging as the team’s top pass-catching threat, Njoku’s role has become more expendable. Rather than extending a tight end heading into his age-30 season, Cleveland would be wiser to reallocate those dollars to areas of greater need-like the offensive line or wide receiver room. It’s a tough call, but one that makes football sense.
2. WR Jerry Jeudy
The Jerry Jeudy experiment in Cleveland just hasn’t worked out. After a Pro Bowl season in 2024 catching passes from Jameis Winston, Jeudy took a sharp downturn in 2025. Chemistry with Shedeur Sanders never materialized, and the lack of cohesion was apparent week after week.
Jeudy still saw plenty of targets-ranking 23rd in the league-but his efficiency cratered. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out as the 72nd-best wide receiver among 81 qualifiers. That’s not what you want from a player with a $52 million contract.
With Sanders expected to be a serious contender for the QB1 job in 2026, the Browns need to surround him with receivers who fit his style and can grow with him. A post-June 1 trade would be the best move financially, but no matter how it happens, it’s time for Cleveland to move on.
3. RG Wyatt Teller
Wyatt Teller’s time in Cleveland has been marked by grit and high-level play, but the past two seasons have been a grind. Injuries have taken their toll, and by the end of 2025, the Browns were turning to Teven Jenkins instead of Teller at right guard-a clear signal that the tide is turning.
Teller’s contract, like Njoku’s, is set to void in 2026 and carries a significant dead cap hit-$19.4 million. Add in the fact that he’ll be 32 next season and coming off back-to-back injury-riddled years, and it’s hard to see a path forward.
With the offensive line in dire need of youth and durability, the Browns can’t afford to keep kicking the can down the road. Teller’s been a warrior, but the team needs to start building for the future.
4. RT Jack Conklin
Jack Conklin finds himself in a similar situation to Teller. He’s 31, his contract voids after 2026, and injuries have made it tough for him to stay on the field.
The Browns banked on veteran stability in 2025, and it didn’t pay off. It’s unlikely Berry makes the same gamble again.
The silver lining? The Browns might already have Conklin’s replacement on the roster.
Dawand Jones, who opened 2025 at left tackle, has a strong track record at right tackle from his Ohio State days. If the Browns feel confident in his development, they could use their No. 6 overall pick to bolster the left side instead.
Either way, it’s time to get younger and more reliable up front-and that likely means moving on from Conklin.
5. QB Dillon Gabriel
Not every draft pick is going to be a home run, and Dillon Gabriel looks like a swing and a miss. Taken in the third round of the 2025 draft, Gabriel never found his footing and now finds himself buried in a quarterback room that’s expected to evolve.
With Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson both expected to return in 2026, Gabriel’s odds of making the 53-man roster under Monken are slim. The Browns will almost certainly add another quarterback this offseason-either through free agency or the draft-and that leaves Gabriel as the odd man out.
If Cleveland can flip him for a late-round pick-even a seventh-it would be a win. One potential landing spot?
Atlanta, where former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is now calling the shots. A reunion there wouldn’t be shocking.
The Bottom Line
The Browns are in transition, and that’s not a bad thing. There’s a young offensive core worth building around, a new coaching staff ready to implement a fresh vision, and a front office that’s shown it can hit big in the draft. But to move forward, Cleveland has to let go of some familiar faces.
That’s the tough part of the NFL-balancing loyalty with logic. For the Browns, this offseason is about getting leaner, younger, and better equipped to support their next franchise quarterback. And that means making some moves that, while difficult, are absolutely necessary.