The Browns have let go of one of their quarterbacks.
On Thursday, Cleveland released Tyler Huntley, leaving them with three quarterbacks for the upcoming season. This decision follows a challenging 2023 season in which they were forced to use five different quarterbacks due to a series of injuries.
Huntley was brought on board as a free agent in March to enhance the team’s quarterback depth. However, he became expendable after second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson impressed with a strong training camp and preseason.
Despite throwing three touchdown passes in the Browns’ final preseason game last week, Huntley did not make the cut. Cleveland will start the season with Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, and Thompson-Robinson, who made three starts and appeared in eight games last year before suffering a significant hip injury. Thompson-Robinson’s solid performance in practices and games helped him secure the likely No. 3 spot on the depth chart.
In addition to releasing Huntley, the Browns have re-signed veteran running back D’Onta Foreman, who had his contract terminated earlier in the week. The team is short on running back depth while waiting for star Nick Chubb to recover from knee surgeries. Foreman, who experienced a health scare during training camp, missed some time but returned to play in the final two preseason games.
The Browns also restructured Watson’s contract for the third time, converting nearly $45 million of his base salary into a signing bonus. This move will free up over $35 million in salary cap space, adding to their league-high $62 million in available cap space. Watson’s contract, originally a fully guaranteed $230 million deal over five years, was agreed upon after he initially declined the Browns’ offers.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry and his team have frequently renegotiated deals with key players to maintain financial flexibility. Assistant GM Catherine Hickman emphasized that such moves are part of the team’s strategy to be aggressive with resource management.
Huntley, 26, had signed a one-year deal with Cleveland after serving as Lamar Jackson’s backup in Baltimore for the past three seasons. He may find another opportunity as teams seek to bolster their quarterback depth, though Stefanski didn’t rule out the possibility of Huntley joining the practice squad.
The Browns faced significant quarterback issues last season, with Watson only able to start six games before undergoing shoulder surgery. In November, they signed Joe Flacco, who led the team to the playoffs with a 4-1 record in five starts.
In other news, beloved play-by-play announcer Jim Donovan announced he will no longer call games due to the return of his cancer. Donovan, 68, had been the voice of the Browns since the team’s return in 1999. The Haslam family, the Browns’ owners, expressed deep appreciation for Donovan, praising his positive impact and dedication.
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