A deadline was extended to allow Joel Bitonio extra time to decide if he wants to return to the Browns for a 13th season. The addition of George Warhop as Todd Monken's offensive line coach could help persuade Bitonio to hold off retirement one more year.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from NFL and Browns news as the Combine approaches …
1. The Browns and Joel Bitonio reportedly agreed to move back the void date of his contract a couple weeks, which gives the venerable left guard more time to decide if he wants to return for a 13th season. Because of past salary-to-bonus conversions and void year add-ons, the Browns would suffer a dead cap charge of $23.5 million against their 2026 salary cap if Bitonio retires. And they wouldn’t be able to designate him a post-June 1 cut to break that up over two years. I thought Bitonio was a lock to retire when he sobbed during reflection of his legacy as a franchise stalwart player at his last press availability. The addition of George Warhop as new Browns offensive line coach, however, could lure Bitonio back for another year. Bitonio is an all-timer in Browns franchise history. He would fit as a great teammate in any era. For that, you have to give some credit to Ray Farmer, the GM who drafted Bitonio in the second round in 2014 after taking cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first round – the two worst draft selections in Browns expansion history.
2. GM Andrew Berry’s No. 1 task this transaction season will be to rebuild the offensive line. The Chicago Bears did it in 72 hours last year by trading for two veteran starters, signing one in free agency, and adding a fourth in the draft. Their fifth was a holdover former first-round pick. If Bitonio returns, he would do the Browns an enormous favor. They need an anchor on the line, and he would be that.
3. Mock draft season is heating up, and some are calling for the Browns to select offensive linemen with both their first-round picks at No. 6 and No. 24. Fans in most markets would howl in outrage over that, but not in blue-collar Cleveland. Remember how loud fans cheered when the 1999 Browns made guard Jim Pyne their first pick in the expansion draft? Browns linemen have been among the most popular players in franchise history, starting with Lou Groza – yes, he was a left tackle before gaining more fame as a kicker – Dick Schafrath, Doug Dieken, Alex Mack, Joe Thomas and Bitonio. Cleveland simply loves hard-working linemen. However, I would caution against lining up two rookie linemen from the start of a season; it ultimately hurt the Patriots and quarterback Drake Maye in the 2025 postseason. Berry might have no choice, however, than to roll the dice early on offensive linemen.
4. I believe one of the important decisions in the draft process the Browns must make concerns Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. While other pass rushers might be rated a tad higher, Downs would be the only defensive player I’d consider with the sixth overall pick. They have to accurately vet him also to gauge his trade value because teams below them in the draft order potentially would consider moving up for him. There is social media chatter about Dallas wanting to move up from No. 12 to draft Downs. Any trade talk with the Cowboys to move down six notches must start and end with a No. 1 pick in 2027 – not their other 2026 first-round pick at No. 20 -- in my opinion. I don’t care what the trade value chart says.
5. If Mike Vrabel tells the Browns he’d like to add Jim Schwartz as a defensive consultant with the Patriots in 2026, would they block it? Would they be that petty?
6. The Browns haven’t formally confirmed Todd Monken’s coaching staff, but previous reports had him raiding the Baltimore Ravens of four assistants on the offensive side – Warhop; Travis Switzer, offensive coordinator; Danny Breyer, pass game coordinator; and Ian Kolste, offensive quality control. Except for Warhop, these are young coaches (Switzer and Breyer) getting promotions to positions they haven’t held before. In contrast, former Ravens coach John Harbaugh loaded up his new Giants offensive staff with experienced coaches, some of whom are over-qualified for their new positions. Harbaugh named former Bears head coach and Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy his offensive coordinator, former Titans head coach and Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator, and former Chargers/Ravens/49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman a senior offensive assistant. Why would a first-time NFL head coach (Monken) give up-and-comers some key roles and a 19-year veteran head coach (Harbaugh) fill his staff with veteran coaches? The only thing I can think of is Monken’s offensive background demands he be the man in charge on that side of the ball while Harbaugh (special teams background) needs to surround himself with offensive expertise. Harbaugh raided his former Ravens team of four defensive coaches and special teams coordinator.
7. An unfortunate column on NFL.com listed possible candidates to be cut next month because of contract/salary cap issues. Denzel Ward was on the list. It’s such an ignorant take I won’t even post the link. The author wrote, “At 29 years old, Ward may not be as elite as he once was but is still a solid corner with years left to give.” Closer to the truth is Ward enjoyed perhaps his best season in 2025. Because of a lack of targets, and, thus, interceptions, Ward is overlooked by media but certainly not by opposing coaches and players. The fact that Ward did not receive a single All-Pro vote among the Associated Press voting committee of 50 speaks to the lack of credibility of that group.