Key depth on Browns’ defensive line, Andrew Billings, opts out for the 2020 season

On Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns announced that DT Andrew Billings has been placed on the reserve/opt-out list for the 2020 season. Billings was signed as a key free agent this offseason for depth on the defensive line, and he was expected to rotate with starters Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi. Along with rookie Jordan Elliott, it had the Browns’ defensive line depth looking much-improved for this season.

The other defensive tackles on the Browns’ roster include Eli Ankou, Daniel Ekuale, and Jeffery Whatley. We’ll see if Cleveland seeks to add a veteran free agent in the coming weeks to fill the void they hoped Billings would have filled.

Billings will receive a $150,000 salary advance and his contract will toll — unless he was a high-risk player, in which case he’d receive a stipend of $350,000 for the season (with his contact still tolling).

The deadline for players to opt out this season is Thursday at 4:00 PM ET.

In other news, the Browns placed WR Ja’Marcus Bradley on reserve/COVID-19.