Cleveland Browns: 5 Biggest offseason workout winners

4. Dontrell Hilliard, RB

The running back room is crowded, but not really, because Kareem Hunt has to serve an eight-game suspension before he can do anything in a regular-season game.

Duke Johnson would be a solid backup to one of last year’s breakout players, Nick Chubb, but The Duke is obviously wants out of Cleveland before the start of the season.

That opens the door for Dontrell Hilliard, a little used back last year who may find increased reps and he could “accelerate” a trade for Johnson, according to ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi.

Hilliard took Duke’s practice time when Johnson skipped OTAs, and he impressed coaches, according to the News-Herald’s Jeff Schudel. 

Hilliard was signed undrafted out of Tulane and waived before the start of the season. The Browns re-signed him to the practice squad and he was promoted to the 53-man roster October 9.

He didn’t actually rush the ball in a regular season game, but we know he can catch the ball out of the backfield. Hilliard caught nine passes for 105 yards in 2018, while also returning 11 kickoffs for 264 yards.