Even if the Miami Dolphins aren’t scheduled to play an international match in 2024, it’s reasonable to infer that there’s a good chance it will happen the next season. The NFL said on Friday that the 2025 season will see the first-ever regular season match in Madrid, Spain, at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of the Real Madrid soccer team. Along with the Chicago Bears, the Dolphins are the only NFL clubs that have marketing rights in Spain. The NFL will launch its regular season in Brazil on September 6 with the Philadelphia Eagles serving as the host team. The Dolphins are the only team in that country having marketing rights.

This is where the schedule matters because, according to the rotation implemented when the league expanded to a 17-game regular season slate, NFC teams will have an additional home game in 2024. Therefore, it would seem likely that one of the nine Dolphins home games in 2025 would take place in either Brazil or Spain. Like with the Brazil game this year, the NFL probably won’t reveal the home teams for those contests until early in 2025. In addition to the Eagles, the following teams will play in London, England in 2024: the Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Eagles; the Carolina Panthers will play at home. Munich, Germany.

The Dolphins are the only one of the five teams slated to play the Jaguars, but they will be playing at home. At some point in May, the full NFL schedule—including dates and kickoff times—should be revealed.

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Cleveland Browns Free Agency Preview – Starting Linebackers

In this daily series Jack Duffin & the OBR team will be taking a look at every single free agent and if/how they fit the Cleveland Browns upcoming needs this offseason.

In this daily series we will look at all of the 633 unrestricted free agents that are set to hit the market on the 11th March at noon ET, this is when teams can begin negotiating with them. Despite this, many deals will be negotiated before that time, with the combine seen as the kick off of the unofficial tampering period. There will be some that don’t make it there due to either being franchise tagged before the 4pm ET deadline on the 5th March or being extended by their current team.

Before anyone throws their toys out the pram and moans why are we covering x position when we don’t need a player there. It is important to look at every area of a roster as what you can get in free agency easily shapes what you do with extensions, trades and the draft.

A team like the Cleveland Browns are using free agency and trades to fill any starting spots on the roster as they are competing to win now and not looking to develop a starter as the season goes along. They are going to use their backup and depth spots to develop starters for the future, so when Andrew Berry is making draft picks later in the offseason keep an eye on who they might replace next year.

We will be discussing all the unrestricted free agent names across all the different positions and explaining why we believe players are targets or not and some that are in the grey area that intrigue us. Players who are restricted free agents and exclusive free agents aren’t included because they are unlikely to make it to free agency this is because they regularly return and this shouldn’t be a focus.

How these articles will be written as we will look at all the starting quality players day by day: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.

Then we will move to the rotational/backup players releasing these day by day: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.

Then we will release two articles a day for the final set:
The depth/special teams options: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.
Plus a VIP set of articles where the OBR team will all add what they would do this offseason position room by position room: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.

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Then I will do one bonus article to end covering specialists since I have promised to look at all 633 players.

Previous Position Room

2020 – Goodson, Smith, Takitaki, Wilson, Phillips, Davis
2021 – Walker, Owusu-Koramoah, Takitaki, Wilson, Smith, Fields
2022 – Walker, Owusu-Koramoah, Takitaki, Phillips, Fields
2023 – Walker, Owusu-Koramoah, Takitaki, Fields, Adams, Diabate

Current Position Room

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
2024 – $1,543,122 (no guarantees)

Tony Fields
2024 – $1,055,000 (no guarantees)

Mohamoud Diabate
2024 – $915,000 (no guarantees)
2025 – $1,030,000 (no guarantees)
2026 – Restricted Free Agent

Charlie Thomas
2024 – $915,000 (no guarantees)
2025 – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
2026 – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
2027 – Restricted Free Agent

Caleb Johnson
2024 – $795,000 (no guarantees)
2025 – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
2026 – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
2027 – Restricted Free Agent

Anthony Walker
Unrestricted Free Agent

Sione Takitaki
Unrestricted Free Agent

Matthew Adams
Unrestricted Free Agent

Jordan Kunaszyk
Unrestricted Free Agent

Jacob Phillips
Unrestricted Free Agent

How Many In 2024

The Cleveland Browns are likely to head into the 2024 season with six linebackers on the final 53-man roster and based on previous years they will have one on the practice squad.

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WHO ISN’T INCLUDED
Exclusive Free Agents

These are players with less than three accrued seasons (6+ games on the roster) which means the team can retain them for the league minimum with no guarantees. These players can either sign it or retire, they have no negotiating power.

Chiefs – Cole Christiansen
Falcons – Nate Landman
Titans – Jack Gibbens
Chiefs – Jack Cochrane
Patriots – Christian Elliss
Raiders – Kanai Mauga

Restricted Free Agents

These are players with three accrued seasons which means a team can tender them, the money isn’t guaranteed, other teams can then offer them contracts. The team owning their rights can match the deal to retain them or get the selected pick below by letting them walk. It is rare for teams to ever bid on these players.

Here are Over The Caps’s projections:
First Round – $6,464,000
Second Round – $4,633,000
Right of First Refusal – $2,828,000

Steelers – Chapelle Russell
Commanders – De’Jon Harris
Commanders – Jabril Cox
Chargers – Blake Lynch
Rams – Christian Rozeboom
Broncos – Jonas Griffith
Lions – Anthony Pittman
Seahawks – Jon Rhattigan
Patriots – Terez Hall
Chargers – Amen Ogbongbemiga
Jaguars – Caleb Johnson

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ANTHONY WALKER
Anthony Walker Jr.
(Photo: © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Browns
Old Contract: $1,232,500/1

PFF LB Rank – 34th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 454
PFF Missed Tackle – 12.2%

Jack’s Estimate: $2.5m a year

Jack: If he had remained healthy until the end of the season then I think he could have been looking at $3m a year or more, after the late season injury I think it could be another one where he signs a cheap deal with maybe some incentives on top of it. He means a lot to the locker room and gives you a really floor, you might be able to do better but it is going to cost a lot more. I expect him to return next season, even if it is just while they look at other options for the future.

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BLAKE CASHMAN

(Photo: Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Texans
Old Contract: $1.8m/1

PFF LB Rank – 5th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 655
PFF Missed Tackle – 9.8%

Jack’s Estimate: $5m a year

Jack: He had a fantastic season in 2023 and hits free agency at the right time, since the Texans have a rookie quarterback deal I expect him to be retained. He is incredibly reasonable at his cost, the question a team like the Browns need to ask is if JOK is twice the player of Cashman. He isn’t going to end up on the Browns but it is understanding the position market before giving someone a massive extension.

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BOBBY WAGNER

(Photo: Abbie Parr, Getty)
Current Team: Seahawks
Old Contract: $5.5m/1

PFF LB Rank – 7th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 1,170
PFF Missed Tackle – 4.8%
PFF Sacks – 6

Jack’s Estimate: $5m a year

Jack: I would happily put a JOK extension to one side for a couple of years if I could bring in Wagner as he would lift this entire linebacker room to another level. Where a JOK extension could cost around $10m a year or more, Wagner is going to cost half of that, maybe just $2.5m a year more than Walker. You can get great talent at linebacker on one year deals without spending a massive amount of money.

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FRANKIE LUVU

(Photo: Jim Dedmon, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Panthers
Old Contract: $9m/2

PFF LB Rank – 14th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 989
PFF Missed Tackle – 15.3%

Jack’s Estimate: $12m a year

Jack: The Cleveland Browns are never going to spend this much on a free agent linebacker under Andrew Berry with how they are investing in the defensive line. He might spend heavy on extending JOK but they know what they have got with someone on the roster where as free agency is a lot more unpredictable.

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JORDAN HICKS

(Photo: David Reginek, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Vikings
Old Contract: $3.5m/1

PFF LB Rank – 23rd out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 813
PFF Missed Tackle – 8.9%

Jack’s Estimate: $4.5m a year

Jack: He is a nice veteran option if you weren’t paying anyone but again he is a player they aren’t going to want to be bringing in as their current spending budget is focused on defensive line rather than linebacker.

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PATRICK QUEEN
Patrick Queen
(Photo: Scott Taetsch, Getty)
Current Team: Ravens
Old Contract: Rookie Deal

PFF LB Rank – 24th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 1,120
PFF Missed Tackle – 15.1%

Jack’s Estimate: $16m a year

Jack: He struggled until he was paired with a $20m a year linebacker in Smith. There is no reason they should be spending this money to keep him, personally I will be celebrating if the Ravens give him the bag too. If a team makes a big more for him in free agency then they will be regretting it most likely.

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LAVONTE DAVID

(Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty)
Current Team: Buccaneers
Old Contract: $4.5m/2

PFF LB Rank – 25th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 956
PFF Missed Tackle – 7.4%

Jack’s Estimate: $5m a year

Jack: If he was more of a MIKE linebacker instead of a WILL then he would be high on my priority list. The issue with these WILL linebackers is that you have numerous cheap veterans who are very good and can be had for around $5m a year. This is a significant negative mark against extending JOK if the demands from his side cross the $10m mark.

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NICHOLAS MORROW

(Photo: Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Eagles
Old Contract: $1.13m/1

PFF LB Rank – 31st out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 834
PFF Missed Tackle – 7.7%

Jack’s Estimate: $2.5m a year

Jack: The Eagles are everything I would be doing at linebacker, get a group of cheap veterans together each season who can give you an above average return while allowing you to spend as much money as possible on the defensive line instead.

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ZACH CUNNINGHAM
Zach Cunningham
(Photo: Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Eagles
Old Contract: $1.775m/1

PFF LB Rank – 35th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 717
PFF Missed Tackle – 12.4%

Jack’s Estimate: $2.5m a year

Jack: Without a doubt he should be in the conversation for the Cleveland Browns starting mike linebacker next season. I would expect them to pair a couple of free agents while they work out a plan which could also include a draft pick to develop for the future.

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DRUE TRANQUILL

(Photo: Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Chiefs
Old Contract: $3m/1

PFF LB Rank – T36th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 579
PFF Missed Tackle – 7.8%

Jack’s Estimate: $4m a year

Jack: Going to the Super Bowl is always a nice way to boost your value for when you hit free agency. He is a really nice signing for whoever gets him in free agency, guaranteed above average play at a reasonable cost. It is more than the Browns will be looking to spend though.

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JOSEY JEWELL

(Photo: Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire, Getty)
Current Team: Broncos
Old Contract: $11m/2

PFF LB Rank – 46th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 796
PFF Missed Tackle – 8.3%

Jack’s Estimate: $7m a year

Jack: If you were looking to spend some money at linebacker then this might be one of the best investments a team will make this offseason. With a potential JOK extension he won’t be on the Browns radar though.

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AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR

(Photo: Denny Simmons / The Tennessean, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Titans
Old Contract: $5m/1

PFF LB Rank – 54th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 1,101
PFF Missed Tackle – 12.3 %

Jack’s Estimate: $6m a year

Jack: He has had an okay year, he was hoping for a bigger deal last offseason but it didn’t happen. He is unlikely to get a big payday this year but a slight raise on last year should be in play. He is too expensive for where the Browns likely want to be in terms of spending.

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SHAQUILLE LEONARD

(Photo: Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Eagles
Old Contract: $1.6m/1

PFF LB Rank – 59th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 618
PFF Missed Tackle – 9.9%

Jack’s Estimate: $2m a year

Jack: Could the chance to play with Anthony Walker lead to him signing on a cheap deal and seeing what he can do in Cleveland. I would say it is unlikely as they are deeper at the WILL linebacker position and their weakness is at MIKE.

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DENZEL PERRYMAN

(Photo: Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Texans
Old Contract: $2.6m/1

PFF LB Rank – 63rd out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 571
PFF Missed Tackle – 14.4%

Jack’s Estimate: $2.5m a year

Jack: He is a player I have been interested in the past and would certainly be on my list if they decide not to bring Walker back. He didn’t have the best of seasons in 2023 but he has the talent to bounce back. There have been plenty of players who have gone back and fourth between the Browns and Texans, Perryman could be another.

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JORDYN BROOKS

(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Seahawks
Old Contract: Rookie Deal

PFF LB Rank – T75th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 802
PFF Missed Tackle – 16.5%

Jack’s Estimate: $10m

Jack: Another under performing first round linebacker, luckily the Cleveland Browns have a general manager isn’t going to make that level of mistake.

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CODY BARTON

(Photo: Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports)
Current Team: Commanders
Old Contract: $3.5m/1

PFF LB Rank – 79th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 844
PFF Missed Tackle – 5.5%

Jack’s Estimate: $3m a year

Jack: He is okay but I would be chasing someone closer to the minimum if I had him in my linebacker core, you don’t want to be spending $3m a year to get average play. You want someone better than average like Walker.

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WILLIE GAY

(Photo: Getty)
Current Team: Chiefs
Old Contract: Rookie Deal

PFF LB Rank – 80th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 625
PFF Missed Tackle – 12.1%

Jack’s Estimate: $5m a year

Jack: Another highly drafted linebacker who is at the end of his rookie deal and likely to get a nice payday. I can’t think of another defensive position where so few players are getting drafted high and then making it to free agency. Certainly one to keep in mind when people are wanting to draft a linebacker high.

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KENNETH MURRAY

(Photo: Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire, Getty)
Current Team: Chargers
Old Contract: Rookie Deal

PFF LB Rank – T81st out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 968
PFF Missed Tackle – 9.3%

Jack’s Estimate: $5m a year

Jack: The lesson here is don’t draft linebackers in the first round, unless you are going to get someone like Luke Kuechly then you aren’t going to get the return compared to a top wide receiver, tackle, cornerback or edge.

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DEVIN WHITE

(Photo: Getty)
Current Team: Buccaneers
Old Contract: Rookie Deal & Fifth Year

PFF LB Rank – 86th out of 89 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 893
PFF Missed Tackle – 10.0%

Jack’s Estimate: $5m a year

Jack: If he wasn’t a high draft pick we would be looking at a cheap one year contract but the past draft capital will get him another shot. If he was around $2.5m for one year he could be worth a shot but it is much more than the Cleveland Browns should be spending with how much they need to spend on a JOK extension.