D'Qwell Jackson and Marcus Benard had two very different seasons last year. Jackson returned from two years worth of pectoral injuries to be a stud at the middle linebacker position. Benard was switching from a pass-rushing outside linebacker to a pass-rushing defensive end as the Browns transitioned from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense, but a motorcycle accident a few games into the year cut his season short. With both players potentially set to become free agents, reports are indicating that the team is interested in bringing both players back.

With Jackson, this comes as no surprise. For fans, the question has not been if he will return for another season, but whether or not it'll be via the franchise tag or via a multi-year deal. Based on reports from the Plain Dealer, Jackson's agent says that he had a "very positive meeting" at the NFL Combine regarding a multi-year deal for his client. If the Browns strike a deal before the March 5 deadline, they can apply the franchise tag to someone else if they so choose to.

Benard is a restricted free agent, meaning that the Browns can choose to tender him for a year. Pro Football Talk originally reported that the Browns do not plan on tending him. The Akron Beacon Journal heard from another source that a tender is not completely out of the question, but that either way, the team has interest in trying to sign Benard to a free-agent contract.