6 Browns’ players who will likely be cap casualties in 2023
By Chad Porto
Joel Bitonio
To be fair, Joel Bitonio may be a cap casualty after 2023, as that’s when his opt-out is, but the Browns may very well cut him in the offseason for all we know. After all, the Browns no longer seem bound by Andrew Berry’s vision. The team is overpaying for guys, and no longer going after the “accountable” types that Berry praised so much.
And if we know one thing, Berry isn’t exactly a savant at finding castoff gems. So unless he gets some cheap free agents or hits on some later draft picks, the team is going to have to make some really tough choices.
Bitonio carries with him a huge cap-hit both on and off the team. He’s gonna go from $6 million (all in total) in 2022 to $14.6 in 2023. While cutting him doesn’t make sense (neither did cutting Austin Hooper, financially speaking), the Browns could trade him after June 1 and save $8 million against the cap in 2023.
He’s 31 and plays a demanding position and we already know that the Browns aren’t worried about things like loyalty. They’ll 86 Bitonio if it helps clear space. Why wouldn’t they? No one is truly safe on this team, and The Haslams and Berry proved this year.