Strong safety Donte Whitner is expected to replace T.J. Ward on the Cleveland Brown’s roster. 

According to a report by The Cleveland Plain-Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot, Whitner expects to be a member of the Browns by 4 p.m. today.

Whitner is set to get anywhere between $8 and $8.5 million.

Whitner, a Cleveland native, is trying to get to Cleveland as soon as possible, according to Cabot.

The Browns could have re-signed Ward, but there are too many other offers out there for Ward at the moment, making a return for him improbable.

Whitner spent the last three years with the San Francisco 49ers, recording five interceptions with the team as well as five forced fumbles.

This season, when the 49ers went to the NFC Championship, Whitener recorded 73 combined tackles, playing in all 16 games.

He previously spent five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, recording two 100-combined tackle seasons, one in his rookie year.

Ward has fairly comparable numbers to Whitner, but Ward is the younger player, heading into just his fifth NFL season.

Ward missed half of the 2011 season, but played in all 16 games for the second time in four years this season, recording 112 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks as well as two interceptions.

However, Ward and Whitener have very similar play styles, and the move by Cleveland will sure up the safety position prior to the draft.