3 Cleveland Browns who could be cap casualties before 2022 season

Cleveland Browns Cap Casualty No. 2 – J.C. Tretter

I think the writing has been on the wall for over a year now that J.C. Tretter could be on the move after 2021. And the big extensions to Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio all but sealed that fate. Tretter has been a great player for the Browns and has been very durable.

I’m not sure he has practiced more than three times in the last five seasons (joking, sort of), but he has only missed one game that was because of COVID19.

The cap hit of $9.88 million isn’t outrageous for an above-average center, but with Nick Harris waiting to take over, look for Berry to clear up some cap by getting rid of Tretter.

Harris was the Browns fifth-round pick in 2020, and he has looked very good in his limited playing time early in his career. He has played a few games at guard and made his first start at center on Christmas Day where he held up very well.

Any game where you don’t mention an offensive lineman by name, it’s a good game.

I’m not going to argue that Tretter isn’t better than Harris, but the cost will be about $9 million less next year, and this is a scenario where it’s better to cut ties with a veteran a year early vs. a year too late. If Harris plays well next season, the Browns will likely look to extend him past his current deal of 2023.