The Cleveland Browns have had a lot of offensive line issues this season, with plenty of injuries plaguing the line all season long.
But one constant was the presence of Joel Bitonio locking down the left guard spot. The 34-year-old guard has played in all 15 games this season and has been an incredible player for Cleveland for a very long time.
According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, that streak might be coming to an end. Bitonio is a name to watch out for as a potential retirement or release candidate after the 2025 season, as the 12-year veteran might be on his way to retirement.
Browns at risk of losing Joel Bitonio to retirement, release after 2025
"Joel Bitonio is finishing his 12th season." Jackson writes. "He hasn't officially announced anything about his future plans, but if this is it, he'll certainly be missed."
The Browns' offensive lineman has been a mainstay for years, and while his NFL future is uncertain, his time in Cleveland is likely to come to an end.
Jackson doesn't outright predict that Bitonio is going to retire or be released, but with the proposed question of which player is "likely playing his last games with his current team," the mention of Bitonio is noteworthy.
Bitonio is 34 years old, and for the first time since 2017, he didn't make the Pro Bowl. The seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro has had an incredible career.
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He's been one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL since his debut in 2014, and while his time in Cleveland, and potentially the NFL, might be coming to an end after 2025, it's a career well worth celebrating.
"He may or may not land in Canton as a guard who played mostly on bad teams," Jackson writes, "but he's been a high-level player for a long time and a rock-solid force internally for a messy organization."
Making the Hall of Fame won't be easy for Bitonio, but his longevity and great peak give him a decent chance to make such an honor five years after retirement.
Jackson believes he could be hanging his cleats up after this season, which wouldn't be a surprise for a 12-year NFL veteran who's more than proven his worth.
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