Tretter was drafted by the Packers in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. After some rookie growing pains, he was outstanding in his second and third seasons. The Browns signed him to a three-year deal in 2017 and extended him in 2019 after two strong seasons. He played five excellent seasons for the Browns in total. Tretter would have had no trouble finding a team had he decided to play in 2022, however in his statement he wrote he wanted to "stop playing when I wanted to — on my own terms." Tretter served as NFLPA president and indicated in his statement that he will continue on in that capacity, "doubling down" on his work "on behalf of the great players of our game, past, present, and future."

The Browns save $8.2 million with the move. Tretter, president of the NFL players union, will hit the open market after eight seasons in Cleveland. He remains one of the league's premiere pas blocking centers, starting 16 games in each of the past five seasons for the Browns. Tretter, 31, will surely garner interest from teams looking to beef up their pass blocking in 2022. 

This isn't ideal. Tretter apparently still has a chance to come back for the game if he can clear protocols, per coach Kevin Stefanski. Nick Harris is the backup center. The Browns continue to be hit hard by the novel coronavirus. 

Tretter hasn't missed a start since 2017 and the knee surgery he underwent in the offseason won't be breaking that streak. He'll get the starting nod over fifth-round rookie Nick Harris. Tretter and the Browns are facing a Ravens defense that averaged 2.2 sacks per game in 2019 and added Calais Campbell in the offseason. Their ability to give Baker Mayfield time in the pocket to make his throws will be a deciding factor in the team's Week 1 success.