Browns Release Veteran Safety Donte Whitner

The Cleveland Browns have released 30-year-old veteran safety Donte Whitner. Whitner is the latest in a string of starters discarded by the team’s new front office, which has been cleaning up the Browns’ roster.

Browns Release Veteran Safety Donte Whitner

Whitner’s release follows that of linebacker Karlos Dansby, the Browns’ leading tackler last season, as well as the departures of Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, former Pro Bowl safety Tashaun Gipson and wide receiver/return specialist Travis Benjamin. All of these players signed with other teams during free agency.

Whitner, who grew up in Cleveland, was drafted out of Ohio State by the Buffalo Bills eighth overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the Bills, then three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, and was finally signed by the Browns as a free agent in 2014. Whitner started 14 games last season and 30 in his two years with the Browns.

Whitner made the Pro Bowl in 2014 but did not fare as well last season, when the Browns’ secondary became filled with injuries.

“It is important for us to thank Donte for all of his contributions to the Cleveland Browns over the last two seasons,” Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown said.

“His passion for this city and dedication to his craft was contagious. These are difficult decisions to make, but we felt it was the best decision for the Browns at this time. We wish him the best as he continues his career.”

After learning about his release, Whitner took to Twitter to criticize the team’s new emphasis on analytics.

After losing both Whitner and Gipson, the Browns are now without their primary starting safeties from 2015. The team will likely address the position in the upcoming draft. Whitner was set to make $6.2 million in 2016 and matching that may be tough.

The Browns also released defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, a seventh-round draft pick last season who didn’t recover enough from a serious left knee injury sustained during his senior year at Oregon.

Ekpre-Olomu, 22, spent last season rehabilitating his surgically repaired knee and made progress, but not enough for the Browns to justify keeping him on the roster.

He was released with a non-football injury designation because he hurt his knee prior to joining the Browns.

Caption: BEREA, OH – JULY 26: Strong safety Donte Whitner #31 of the Cleveland Browns catches as pass during training camp at the Cleveland Browns training facility on July 26, 2014 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)