Browns signing OT Chris Hubbard to 5-year deal worth $37.5 million, as team awaits on Joe Thomas’ decision

The clock is ticking, and the Cleveland Browns still don’t have a decision from left tackle Joe Thomas. That hasn’t stopped them from continuing to try to upgrade the line.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network broke the news Tuesday evening that the Browns are planning on signing OT Chris Hubbard to a 5-year, $37.5 million deal with $18 million guaranteed. The signing would likely make him the team’s new starting right tackle, abruptly kicking last year’s starter, Shon Coleman, to the curb.

Hubbard, an undrafted free agent who signed with the Steelers in 2013, has started 14 games over the past two seasons, including 10 last year at both guard and right tackle. The assumption here is that new offensive coordinator Todd Haley could have been a champion for urging the team to sign Hubbard if he believed he was an up-and-coming tackle (although he’ll be 27 years old by the time the season starts). DBN’s Andrea Hangst has seen a lot of Steelers games and had this to say about Hubbard:

Meanwhile, the Browns also added depth to the offensive tackle position by reportedly reaching an agreement with veteran OT Donald Stephenson on a 1-year, $2.5 million deal. Stephenson has started 37 games in his career, and GM John Dorsey is familiar with him from his Kansas City days.

Meanwhile, the Browns hope to hear word from Thomas before free agency officially begins at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, and the team could still be pushing to sign OT Nate Solder depending on what Thomas does.