Cleveland Browns: 5 players on the bubble to make the final roster

Nate Orchard, DE

For Nate Orchard to make the 2018 Cleveland Browns, he needs to show up and show out not only during training camp but during preseason games as well.

The truth is the Browns’ linebacking corps has improved and with an influx of talent, guys who weren’t that high on the depth chart anyway have to fight to stay on the roster.

Orchard had a sack of Bills’ quarterback Nathan Peterman, chasing him and sacking him from the rear.

There was also some bad, as Orchard failed to corral Josh Allen, who ran around the former second-round pick for a first down. Orchard also missed on what should have been a sack of Allen on a play in which the rookie threw a touchdown to the back of the end zone.

Orchard entered the game third behind Myles Garrett and Chris Smith on the depth chart.

On the other side of the ball, Carl Nassib found himself behind Emmanuel Ogbah.

Nassib might as well as be bunched with Orchard as a player on the bubble because they might be fighting for the same spot.

After watching Genard Avery line up as a down end–he’s drawing rave reviews–someone’s job may be at stake.

Avery was picked as a linebacker, but he looked terrific playing on the line.

Again, the Browns have a new boss picking the final roster and he’s likely to go with the guy whom he drafted and is producing, rather than the guy on the bubble who’s missing sacks.

Orchard was drafted by Ray Farmer in 2015 in the second round. He was the nation’s sack king entering that draft. As a senior, Orchard had 18.5 quarterback takedowns, but that hasn’t translated into the pros where he owns just 5.0 career sacks in 34 career games.

The same’s true for Nassib, who has 5.5 sacks in 30 career games.

It probably hasn’t helped that Cleveland switched from the 3-4 defense to the 4-3 base, meaning Orchard and Nassib have had to play on the end of the line.