A year after signing him as a free agent, the Browns have parted ways with veteran offensive lineman Paul McQuistan, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). McQuistan’s deal with the Browns was a two-year pact, so he’ll reach free agency a year earlier than he would’ve if he had played out the contract.
McQuistan, a former third-round pick, spent three seasons with the Seahawks before signing with the Browns, starting 40 games for the club from 2011 to 2013. Despite being a regular contributor in Seattle, the 31-year-old saw his playing time significantly scaled back during his first and only year in Cleveland. McQuistan played just 121 offensive snaps, recording a -6.8 grade during his limited run with the club, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The contract McQuistan signed with the Browns included a $750K signing bonus, so half that amount ($375K) will count against the team’s cap in 2015. However, the offensive lineman’s overall cap hit on Cleveland’s books has been reduced by $1.395MM, the amount of his non-guaranteed base salary.