Although NFL teams could begin signing free agents at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday, when more than 500 players became available, team announcements about newly acquired talent were scarce on Wednesday night.

That’s because many teams don’t put the press-release stamp on their additions until the player has passed his physical and signed his contract.

But the Cleveland Browns weren’t waiting. The Browns not only announced that defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson had chosen to come to Cleveland, they issued statements from the former Alabama standout and his new coach, Kevin Stefanski.

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“I’m grateful for the opportunity to come to Cleveland and have a chance to compete for a championship for one of the greatest fan bases in the NFL, the Dawg Pound,” read Tomlinson’s statement. “I can’t wait to get to the Land, put on my orange and brown and start working alongside my new teammates and coaches. You’re going to get everything I have, Cleveland. Let’s go be great.”

Tomlinson has six seasons as an NFL starter – four with the New York Giants and two with the Minnesota Vikings. He left the Vikings for a contract reported at four years for $57 million.

“He’s a smart, tough football player,” read Stefanski’s statement. “In addition to being a productive force in the middle of the defense, he’s a high character person. He’s a great teammate and exactly the type of person we want as part of our team.”

In addition to Tomlinson, two other players from Alabama high schools and colleges who became unrestricted free agents on Wednesday have had their new teams issue confirmations: Defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the New York Giants, and quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) left the Las Vegas Raiders for the Denver Broncos.

Three other free agents with Alabama football roots have been widely reported as having reached a contract agreement with a new team: Defensive tackle Jarran Reed (Alabama) left the Green Bay Packers for the Seattle Seahawks, cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) left the Houston Texans for the Denver Broncos and defensive back Jimmie Ward (Davidson) left the San Francisco 49ers for the Texans.

Nine other players who could have become unrestricted free agents on Wednesday afternoon did not because they signed contract extensions to stay with their teams:

· Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood)

· Bears fullback Khari Blasingame (Buckhorn)

· Panthers center Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama)

· Eagles cornerback James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford)

· Lions defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs (Alabama)

· Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (Auburn)

· Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones (Alabama)

· Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park)

· Jets outside linebacker Quincy Williams (Wenonah)

Thirty-one more players from Alabama high schools and colleges became unrestricted free agents on Wednesday without being reported to have signed or in agreement to sign with a team yet:

· Jets linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford)

· Raiders cornerback Anthony Averett (Alabama)

· Bears defensive lineman Angelo Blackson (Auburn)

· Colts cornerback Tony Brown (Alabama)

· Giants safety Landon Collins (Alabama)

· Colts defensive tackle Byron Cowart (Auburn)

· Browns linebacker Tae Davis (Oxford)

· Ravens running back Kenyan Drake (Alabama)

· Falcons linebacker Rashaan Evans (Auburn High, Alabama)

· Dolphins defensive end Trey Flowers (Columbia)

· Packers safety Rudy Ford (New Hope, Auburn)

· Titans defensive end Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama)

· Patriots running back Damien Harris (Alabama)

· Browns safety Ronnie Harrison (Alabama)

· Texans tight end O.J. Howard (Autauga Academy, Alabama)

· Browns offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (UAB)

· Saints running back Mark Ingram (Alabama)

· Broncos safety Kareem Jackson (Alabama)

· Buccaneers wide receiver Julio Jones (Foley, Alabama)

· Bears linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville)

· Browns linebacker Reggie Ragland (Bob Jones, Alabama)

· Steelers outside linebacker Malik Reed (Dothan)

· Rams defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama)

· Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama)

· Steelers offensive lineman Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville)

· Commanders wide receiver Cam Sims (Alabama)

· Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (Auburn)

· Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama)

· Seahawks long snapper Carson Tinker (Alabama)

· Giants defensive lineman Nick Williams (Minor, Samford)

· Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery, Alabama)

Two other players who could have become restricted free agents on Wednesday afternoon instead became unrestricted free agents because they did not receive qualifying offers from their 2022 teams – offensive tackle Chandler Brewer (Florence) with the Rams and center J.C. Hassenauer (Alabama) with the Steelers.

Two more players who could have become restricted free agents on Wednesday afternoon did. The New York Jets put a second-round tender on defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal), and the Commanders put a right-of-first-refusal tender on safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama).

The tenders carry salaries of $4.304 million for Huff and $2.743 million for Reaves. The players can negotiate with other teams until April 21. If they get a better offer, their current club has the option to match it. In Huff’s case, if the Jets decline to do so, they get a second-round draft choice from the team that signs the pass-rusher.

Two players who would have become unrestricted free agents instead became the subject of franchise tags. That extended the Raiders’ period to negotiate with running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama) until July 17. Washington didn’t need the extra time: Defensive tackle Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) signed a new deal with the Commanders on Monday.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.