Browns free agency: Grading the Quincy Williams signing after losing star LB Devin Bush

The Cleveland Browns are moving in a different direction at linebacker, signing former All-Pro Quincy Williams to a two-year deal worth up to $17 million. The move is a direct response to losing Devin Bush, who parlayed a career year in Cleveland into a three-year, $30-million contract with the Chicago Bears.

The Production Gap

While Williams brings a decorated resume, the move looks like a calculated gamble. According to ESPN Matt Bowen’s rankings, Williams was the No. 10 off-ball linebacker available this cycle, trailing Bush, who sat at No. 7. The 2025 production gap is also notable; Bush is coming off a massive year with 125 tackles and 3 interceptions. By comparison, Williams averaged 6.3 tackles per game last season (totaling 83) while adding 3.5 sacks.

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The Rutenberg Connection

The deciding factor in this signing appears to be familiarity. Williams’ first linebacker coach in the NFL was Mike Rutenberg, who is now the Browns new Defensive Coordinator. Cleveland is banking on that existing relationship to help Williams regain his 2023 All-Pro form. Bowen notes that Williams still offers high-end range as a tackler and versatility in “second-level” alignments to pressure the quarterback, but he has to prove he can match the down-to-down consistency Bush provided.

The Grade: C+

On paper, this is a clear downgrade in current production. Replacing a 125-tackle player with a soon to be 30-year old who struggled to reach 90 last year is a risk, especially when the defense was the backbone of the team. However, saving roughly $1.5M per year against the cap and reuniting a player with a coach who knows how to maximize his "splash play" ability keeps this from being a failure. It’s a "wait-and-see" move that relies entirely on coaching over raw 2025 stats.

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