Tracking the Status of the Cleveland Browns' Free Agents

Here is a digest of the latest news we've heard on the Cleveland Browns' free agents. We will keep this post updated up until Tuesday, where we will consolidate the information in our annual, constantly-updating live blog here at Dawgs By Nature.

Unrestricted Free Agent

• QB Brian Hoyer - (March 9th) - Hoyer is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Texans, who also just re-signed Ryan Mallett. Hoyer and Mallett would compete for the starting role.
  
  (March 8th) With the Bills and the Browns both adding new quarterbacks, the top two teams interested in Hoyer are the New York Jets and the Houston Texans. Both landing spots are fairly attractive spots for Hoyer -- the Texans with a great defense, and the Jets with a couple of good weapons at wide receiver. A few other teams, reportedly the Vikings and 49ers, are interested in him as a backup.
  
  
• QB Tyler Thigpen - Nothing.
  
  
• WR Miles Austin - Nothing.
  
  
• WR Marlon Moore - Nothing.
  
  
• TE Jordan Cameron - Per Rand Getlin, at least five teams have an interest in Cameron, including the Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, Broncos, and Seahawks. It must be nice having two Super Bowl contenders after your services.
  
  
• DL Ahtyba Rubin - According to Nate Ulrich, Rubin has drawn interest from three teams, but the Browns are believed to be one of them. All indications are that the Browns are letting Rubin walk.
  
  
• DL Sione Fua - Nothing.
  
  
• OLB Jabaal Sheard - (March 9th) Per Rand Getlin, the Patriots, Buccaneers, Bengals, and Seahawks have all shown an interest in Sheard.
  
  (March 8th) There have been less distinct rumors about Sheard, but the general vibe seems to be that he's viewed as a nice, under-the-radar signing by several teams, but that the Browns aren't bringing him back.
  
  
• CB Buster Skrine - First, it was 8 teams, then 10 teams, and now 15 teams that have shown an interest in Skrine. The cornerback contracts have already started and players are being given big-time money. The Browns want to retain Skrine, but they might not bring a high enough offer to the table.
  
  
• S Jim Leonhard - Retired.

Restricted Free Agents

• TE Andre Smith - Nothing.
  
  
• NT Ishmaa'ily Kitchen - Tendered on March 9th.
  
  
• ILB Craig Robertson - Tendered on March 9th.
  
• S Tashaun Gipson - Tendered on March 9th.
  The Browns have been working at trying to sign Gipson to a new contract. If they can't agree on terms before this Tuesday, they will either use a 1st round tender or a 2nd round tender on him.
  
  
• S Johnson Bademosi - Tendered on March 9th.

Exclusive-Rights Free Agent

• RB Shaun Draughn - Re-signed on March 6th.
  
  
• LT Ryan Seymour - Re-signed on March 9th.
  
  
• P Spencer Lanning - Re-signed on March 6th.