The Browns announced Thursday that they’ve released veteran tight end Jim Dray and veteran defensive lineman Randy Starks.
Starks was signed last year as the Browns got older but not better on defense. He started 15 games at defensive end and had 29 tackles and one sack. Starks, 32, is a two-time Pro Bowler who has 42 career sacks in 12 seasons.
Dray played in every game over the last two seasons, starting 16. He had six catches for 61 yards last year as Gary Barnidge emerged as the team’s top tight end, went to the Pro Bowl and got a contract extension.
These are the first notable personnel moves the new Browns regime has made since taking over last month. Starks is the first veteran defender to go but probably not the last; for salary-cap reasons, the expected release of quarterback Johnny Manziel can’t happen until the start of the new league year next month.