The Browns are signing a former third-round pick to a contract extension before he hits free agency.
Cleveland has reached a four-year, $14.4 million deal with defensive end John Hughes, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Other media outlets have since confirmed Hughes’ new deal.
Hughes, 26, has notched 85 tackles and four sacks in three NFL seasons. He recorded 17 tackles in five games (three starts) for Cleveland in 2014, missing most of the campaign with a knee injury.
A University of Cincinnati product, the Browns took Hughes No. 87 overall in 2012, the same year in which the Browns took Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden in Round One.
While Richardson and Weeden are no longer with Cleveland, the Browns did come away with several contributors in that class, including right tackle Mitchell Schwartz (Round Two), Hughes, wide receiver Travis Benjamin (Round Four) and defensive end Billy Winn (Round Six). The Browns also signed Pro Bowl safety Tashaun Gipson as an undrafted free agent in 2012.