At 2-7, the Browns are using the final day before the trade deadline to move on from players who aren’t in their plans for 2025 and beyond. Moving on from Jefferson and edge rusher Za’Darius Smith opens up snaps to evaluate second-round defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. and defensive end Isaiah McGuire.

Jefferson’s release comes as no surprise considering that he was a healthy scratch in each of the past four games. The Browns tried to trade him, but opted to release him when no deal could be reached.

At the NFL trade deadline, Cleveland dealt away DE Za’Darius Smith and released DT Quinton Jefferson. Smith re-signed with the Browns this offseason while Jefferson was brought in as a free agent. With DE Alex Wright on injured reserve for the year,