Donte Whitner Released by Browns

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

After two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, former San Francisco 49er and three time Pro Bowler Donte Whitner has been released and is now a free agent.

Whitner, the Browns’ second leading tackler last season, signed a four-year deal worth $28 million with the Browns in the 2014 offseason. Whitner had one interception and forced two fumbles in his two years in Cleveland.

Whitner becomes the seventh starter to leave the Browns this offseason and joins linebacker Karlos Dansby as being the only two that were cut. Dansby was the leading tackler for the Browns last season and recently signed with the rival Cincinnati Bengals for a base salary of $1 million with incentives.

The cut of Whitner certainly was not due to lack of talent, as only two seasons ago he was a Pro Bowler. Whitner is still an above-average starting safety, and can provide a team with a player that opposing teams will fear all game long.

When looking at potential fits for Whitner, the Oakland Raiders stick out in particular.

They lost Charles Woodson to retirement this offseason, and outside of him had an atrocious secondary last season. Adding in Whitner, along with the recent signing of Sean Smith should almost certainly push them closer to being a playoff contender.