A year ago, the Cleveland Browns were in a stable, if secretly uneasy, place at the safety position. For better or for worse, Tashaun Gipson and Donte Whitner would reprise their roles as starters. Gipson started in 13 games at free safety in 2015, totaling 42 solo tackles, two interceptions and two passes defensed, while Whitner served as strong safety and totaled 81 combined tackles—the second-most on the defense—along with four passes defensed. And, as of Sunday, both men are gone.
Gipson, who played the 2015 season on a one-year, $2.56 million second-round restricted free agent tender, did not get a new contract offer from Cleveland and moved on, signing a five-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars at the start of free agency.