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Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman.
Ronnie Hickman’s breakout campaign didn’t just earn him a starting job — it earned him a nice bonus check.
The Cleveland Browns safety ranked second in the entire NFL in performance-based pay distributions for the 2025 season, taking home nearly $1.3 million as a supplement to his base salary. The program is designed to reward players who produce far beyond what they’re paid.
The NFL’s Performance-Based Pay program creates a leaguewide fund distributed as supplemental compensation each offseason. The formula rewards players who outperform their contracts by comparing playing time to salary. Players like Hickman, who log significant snaps at a low cost, rise to the top of the list.
Ronnie Hickman Earned Role With Browns
Hickman started all 17 regular-season games for Cleveland in 2025, finishing with a career-high 103 tackles and seven pass breakups, including two interceptions.
Pro Football Focus graded Hickman at 75.3 in coverage — tops among all members of Cleveland’s secondary. That production came on a rookie contract worth a fraction of what established starters earn. Only Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright, who drew a $1.44 million distribution, finished ahead of Hickman.
Hickman signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State in May 2023. He made the initial 53-man roster and spent his first two seasons working his way into the rotation. In 2024, he started nine games before becoming a full-time starter last season. Hickman said that he uses his undrafted status as motivation.
“Going undrafted, that feeling, it’s not a feeling that you’ll ever really forget,” Hickman said ahead of last season. “Whenever you feel like you’re missing something, just open up that feeling you had when you didn’t get a phone call.”
Hickman’s original deal with Cleveland was a three-year, $2.715 million contract — a number that looks like a bargain in hindsight.
Browns Tender Ronnie Hickman
The Browns retained Hickman this offseason with a right-of-first-refusal tender worth approximately $3.52 million. The tender means Cleveland can match any offer sheet Hickman signs with another team, though the Browns would not receive draft-pick compensation if they declined to retain him.
In 41 career games with Cleveland, Hickman has recorded 173 tackles, three interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
It’s been a busy offseason for Hickman, who was in headlines earlier this offseason when he was jumped at a hotel in New York. Hickman was treated for minor injuries at the hospital.
The Browns’ defense is under new leadership, with Mike Rutenberg taking over for Jim Schwartz as the team’s defensive coordinator. Rutenberg isn’t looking to reinvent the unit, which was among the NFL’s elite last season. Cleveland allowed just 283.6 yards and 22.3 points per game. Rutenberg does want to keep the same attacking style that has become synonymous with Cleveland.
“First of all, I feel very fortunate to be part of this unit. I feel very fortunate to work with the staff who coached this unit and then feel very fortunate to work with these players who have achieved great things,” Rutenberg said. “It’s about building the relationships, getting us to play hard, fast and violent.”
J.R. DeGroote JR DeGroote is a staff writer for Heavy.com, where he has covered the NFL, NBA, and trending sports stories since 2019. His work focuses on some of the most passionate fanbases in sports, including reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about J.R. DeGroote
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