Myles Garrett’s trade request and the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback search have understandably dominated the offseason headlines. While the team is currently holding its most extensive pre-draft meetings ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine in late February, the Browns will soon start making contract decisions and preparing for the opening of the free agent negotiation period on March 10.

They will not be heavy buyers. Per Over the Cap, Cleveland is more than $38 million over the projected 2025 salary cap. The next restructuring of Deshaun Watson’s contract will save the Browns $36 million, but other big decisions lie ahead — and a potential trade of Garrett would have cap ramifications, too.

The Browns signed so many players to long-term deals in 2022 and 2023 that their potential free-agency class is small in quantity and headliners. Amari Cooper was traded in October after Cleveland fully guaranteed his salary in the final year of his deal.

While there certainly are some recognizable names eligible to hit free agency next month, the Browns’ most important decisions for late February and early March are arguably in how they handle the contracts of players such as Jack Conklin, Dalvin Tomlinson and Ogbo Okoronkwo. Safety Juan Thornhill will almost certainly be released, and the Browns likely will try to rework Conklin’s deal to lower his current cap number of $19.1 million. Tomlinson and Okoronkwo could be shopped in potential trades, released or brought back on amended contracts.

The Browns don’t want to see Nick Chubb playing elsewhere, but the team has to think about the future at running back with Jerome Ford entering the final year of his rookie contract and Chubb eligible for free agency ahead of his age-29 season. If Chubb has other suitors, would he accept less money to remain in Cleveland? Do the Browns believe he can get healthy enough to return to something close to his top form?

We don’t know those answers. We don’t know the team’s exact plans for adding a veteran quarterback to start the 2025 season or for addressing left tackle. With decisions due in just a few weeks, here’s a list of the Browns’ impending free agents and guesses on where they might stand. The team’s current lack of salary-cap flexibility means players with legitimate offers elsewhere likely will accept them.

Nick Chubb, RB

A fan favorite and top-tier running back over multiple seasons when healthy, Chubb has been everything the Browns wanted and needed. But can he still be an effective runner? And can the Browns provide him a chance to run for a playoff team?

Chubb wasn’t himself last year after returning in October from multiple knee surgeries. Maybe the Browns take the side that nothing worked on last year’s offense and that Chubb should be better with more time to heal. But they have salary-cap issues and should be drafting a running back. Chubb might want a chance to play for a better team, too.

Prediction: No movement until April, at the earliest. Let’s check on the shape of the roster later in the spring.

Jedrick Wills Jr., LT

Wills is a starting left tackle who’s only 25, but he hasn’t been fully healthy since the middle of 2023. Given that he barely played last year and decided he wasn’t healthy enough to play in November when the team apparently thought otherwise, it feels like the relationship is over.

The Browns twice reworked Wills’ rookie contract and fifth-year option, so he’ll count for $11.8 million in dead money if he’s not on the roster.

Prediction: Wills won’t be back with the Browns and will play on a one-year deal elsewhere, assuming he’s medically cleared.

Elijah Moore, WR

Moore doesn’t turn 25 until late March and has played in bad offenses for most of his career. He’s had some big moments and some big-play pop, but he’s probably not a starter on most teams. The Browns might still see some upside here and could get Moore back on a low-cost deal.

Prediction: Moore goes elsewhere on a one-year contract.

Jameis Winston, QB

Those four weeks last season were fun, weren’t they? Winston enjoys himself at work — and in general — but he can’t quit throwing it to the other team. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski’s January comments about their need to reduce turnovers probably reinforces that Winston isn’t in the 2025 plans (and was only in the 2024 plans because the Browns were worried fans would chant for Joe Flacco after Watson three-and-outs).

Prediction: Winston goes elsewhere on a one-year deal. He’s absolutely one of the 15 to 20 best throwers on the planet, but the interception issues mean he might never again be a clear-cut starter.

Jordan Akins, TE

Akins was a big fan of Tommy Rees, the Browns’ new offensive coordinator who coached tight ends last year. Akins is a reliable pass catcher and showed last year he can still play in someone’s tight end rotation, so we’ll see if he wants to come back or if he’ll have a chance to make more money elsewhere. He turns 33 in April.

Prediction: He probably moves on. This is a deep tight end draft class, and David Njoku is entering the final year of his current contract. The Browns need to think about the future at tight end (and most other spots).

James Hudson, OL

The Browns always viewed Hudson as a long-term project given that he really only played one full college season at offensive tackle. Hudson was never great, but he filled in at multiple spots for Cleveland over his four seasons before injuries cut his 2024 short.

Assuming he’s healthy and wants to return, bringing him back makes sense given the uncertainty at both tackle spots.

Prediction: Hudson returns on a one-year deal unless there’s an injury-related holdup or the Browns plan to draft two offensive tackles. When you think about the Browns’ potential offseason additions, think cheap labor: young players on rookie contracts or veterans either playing on prove-it deals or having contracts at least partially paid by their previous employer.

2024 contributors also eligible for free agency: Maurice Hurst, DT; Devin Bush, LB; Mike Ford, CB; James Proche, WR; D’Onta Foreman, RB; Michael Dunn, OL; Germain Ifedi, OL; Bailey Zappe, QB (restricted free agent); D’Anthony Bell, S.