Tashaun Gipson: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Free-Agent Safety

Tashaun Gipson will enter the free-agent market with a qualifying offer from the Cleveland Browns, allowing the team to match any contract offer given to the safety.

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Gipson Given Qualifying Offer

Monday, March 9

Gipson enters free agency in an uncertain place. As a 24-year-old Pro Bowler who's made 11 interceptions over the past two seasons, logic would dictate he'd be one of the highest-paid defensive backs on the market.   

There are two problems: The Browns still technically own his rights, and he ended 2014 on injured reserve. Those two factors make him one of the more interesting free agents to monitor this offseason—especially given recent NFL history of players struggling to nab offers in restricted free agency.

The Browns confirmed that they tendered a qualifying offer to Gipson, giving the franchise the right to match any offer to the safety.

Gipson, an undrafted free agent in 2012, spent his first three seasons in Cleveland on a team-friendly contract. He made just $1.44 million over the course of the deal, which was less than what Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan made in cash during 2014 alone.

For his relative pittance, Gipson turned out to be on the shortlist of the NFL's best value contracts. He was a regular contributor by midway through his rookie season, an every-week contributor in his second year and a Pro Bowl selection, despite missing five games, last season. Only Richard Sherman intercepted more passes over the last two years; Gipson led the AFC in picks in both 2013 and 2014.

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Pro Football Focus ranked Gipson as the 11th-best coverage safety in football.

Coach Mike Pettine told reporters during the season:

"

He is playing well overall. He grades out high every week. He and [Donte Whitner], I think, are very complementary to each other and do a good job communicating and making sure the corners and the structure in front of them is right. There have not been a lot of mental mistakes by that duo, and that’s hard sometimes to handle, schematically.

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The Browns remain overwhelming favorites to bring him back. NFL rules on restricted free agents make it nearly impossible for impact players to go elsewhere. Cleveland can tender Gipson at three different levels under the collective bargaining agreement, one of which forces teams to give up a first-round selection for signing him.

The team would then also have the option of matching Gipson's contract offer with the other franchise, which often leads to a chilling effect on the market.

It's exceedingly rare for a restricted free agent to switch teams. Odds are a similar scenario plays out here. The Browns will either bring him back via a long-term extension or they will allow him to play his way into unrestricted free agency, where they would have the franchise or transition tag options.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.

Contract info via Spotrac.com.