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As part of this unique season that the NFL is trying to pull off during the pandemic, players who wish to opt out for the 2020 season may do so. On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns announced the first of two players on their roster who have decided to opt out: OG Drew Forbes and OT Drake Dorbeck.
Forbes missed most of 2019 on injured reserve, but was expected to compete with Wyatt Teller for the starting right guard spot this year. Now, Teller becomes even more of a favorite to win that job — and someone like Chris Hubbard could now get an extra look there as competition.
Chris Hubbard, who was already going to be a valuable piece of the OL as a versatile 6th man, now becomes even more valuable with the Forbes opt-out, considering the lack of other options at RG after projected starter Wyatt Teller.
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) July 29, 2020
Dorbeck was an undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi. He was expected to compete for a spot on the practice squad at best. Forbes and Dorbeck’s decisions are final for the upcoming season: they can not revoke their decisions.
If players are high risk and decide to opt out, they are paid a $350,000 stipend for this year, and their contract tolls to next year. If they are not high risk, the player’s contract tolls, and they are given a $150,000 advance on next year’s salary, but only if they were selected in this year’s draft or on a team for at least 3 weeks in 2019. Over the Cap has the full details on the policy here.
We don’t know if Forbes or Dorbeck were high risk. If they opted out voluntarily, then Forbes will get a $150,000 cash advance this year, while Dorbeck will receive nothing.
Unrelated to COVID-19, the Browns also announced that TE Pharaoh Brown was placed on active/PUP for the start of training camp.