As we inch closer to the official start of the NFL 2021 season on March 17 at 4 pm EST, we will begin hearing more reports like this.
Tom Pelissero is reporting that the Cleveland Browns will not tender an offer to CB and special teams guru Tavierre Thomas.
Tavierre Thomas
Thomas will be 25 on March 11.
Tavierre Thomas started his career as a UDFA signed in 2018 by the Arizona Cardinals for the practice squad.
The Browns claimed him off waivers in September 2018, and he has remained with the team ever since.
He appeared in all 16 regular season games in 2020 and netted 29 solo tackles.
Thomas had his first quarterback sack in Week 1 of the 2020 season against the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson.
Tavierre Thomas is also a seasoned special teams player.
Thomas’s contract which expired at the end of the 2020 season was a 3 year deal he initially signed with the Cardinals for $1.71 million.
Thomas Is One Of Three Restricted Free Agents
Tavierre Thomas, along with WR KhaDarel Hodge and LB Tae Davis are the three restricted free agents on the Browns roster.
Per NFL rules, the team holding the player’s contract must offer a salary tender which is known as a qualifying offer.
The player can then take the offer and talk with other teams, and the original team has a right to match a competing team’s offer.
If the team does not match the offer, the player is able to sign with the new team.
It is pretty clear that by not tendering an offer to Thomas, the Browns believe his productivity can made up elsewhere either with other players on the roster or draft picks.
Browns Are Among The Best Financially
Despite having the most carryover cap money from 2020, the Browns will be forced to make some tough decisions.
Bigger names than Thomas’s could make the headlines.
The Browns need a stronger defensive unit to be successful in 2021 so perhaps this is an effort to clear money and space for other players.
There is also the pesky issue of Nick Chubb‘s extension; he is in the final year of his four year contract in 2021 and Baker’s contract situation which may involve an extension or exercising the fifth year option.
Upcoming Schedule
As mentioned above, the unrestricted free agent signings can commence at the start of the league year which is at 4 pm EST on March 17.
The NFL Draft is also on the horizon, scheduled for April 29 – May 1 in Cleveland.
As of now, the plan for the draft has not been communicated.
The 2020 NFL Draft was 100% virtual because of the pandemic, but there have been rumors that the 2021 draft could be formatted as 50% virtual and 50% in person.
More details on that will be forthcoming from the Commissioner’s office.
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