Cleveland Browns release defensive lineman Phil Taylor

The Browns released defensive lineman Phil Taylor on Tuesday.

The Cleveland Browns have released defensive lineman Phil Taylor, the team announced Tuesday.

Cleveland selected Taylor with their first pick at No. 21 overall in the 2011 draft. He played in only five games in 2014 because of a knee injury.

In 44 career NFL games, Taylor has seven sacks, including four as a rookie.

The Browns exercised the fifth-year option on Taylor's contract last year, and by not cutting him before March 10, his $5.5 million salary is fully-guaranteed.

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Cleveland terminated Taylor's contract to cut its roster down to the league-mandated 75 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Browns also waived Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, Luke Lundy and Carey Spear.

Cleveland will further cut its roster down to 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday.

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