Browns Face Uncertainty with Bitonio's Future

0:00On March 12, the Cleveland Browns just hit a big snag with long-time left guard, Joel Baitonio. His contract officially voided at the start of the New League year on Wednesday evening, making the 33-year-old an unrestricted free agent. Baitonio has been weighing retirement, and now the team faces a $23.5 million debt cap hit in 2026 from those, voided years. The Browns had delayed the void date to give Baitonio more time to decide. But they could not hold off forever. Meanwhile, General Manager Andrew Berry has been busy adding offensive line-depth in free agency, bringing in experienced guards like Zion Johnson, too. Cover the left side. Fans are left scratching their heads, with more questions than answers about Baitonio's future. The cap charge adds pressure, though Berry has options like restructuring cornerback Denzel Ward's deal to ease the blow. The team is prepping as if their Ironman guard might not return next season.

1:00Sources say Baitonio could take up to a month to make his call, and even then, a new contract could bring him back. Cleveland's move suggests they are building without him, but they have shuffled lines before to fit key players. In the end, this leaves the Browns in a familiar spot of uncertainty, balancing cap realities with loyalty to one of their best ever.