Cleveland Browns: Whose roster spot might Braxton Miller take

The Cleveland Browns signed wide receiver Braxton Miller to the roster, so whose roster spot could the former Buckeye take?

The Cleveland Browns didn’t exactly need a wide receiver, but that’s what they got when they announced the signing of former Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller.

In coming to Cleveland, Miller joins a wide receiving corps that is stacked at the top, while a healthy completion at the end of the depth chart has been one of the storylines of camp.

With Miller being a Buckeye, fans are naturally looking for a way to to put Miller on this team.

If he’s to make it on the squad, he’s probably going to have to beat out Damion Ratley and Derrick Willies for the for fifth and sixth spot on the 53-man roster. This is written knowing Antoino Callaway will be suspended for the first four games of the season.

With this in mind, the makeup of the receiver room would include Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Jaelan Strong, Ratley and Willies. D.J. Montgomery, who came on really strong against the Colts, looks like a better fit for the practice squad right now, even though that’s not a guarantee.

When the smoke clears on the 53-man roster, the scenario that is more likely than any involves Miller being released. Browns’ Twitterverse is trying to start the rumor that Miller was brought in to run the scout team in order to help the team prepare for Lamar Jackson.

Others are speculating trade. The Browns actually have receivers down the depth chart capable of making other teams. Perhaps general manager John Dorsey swings a deal, which opens a spot for Miller.

Miller caught 34 balls for 261 yards and two touchdowns after being drafted in the third round of the 2016 draft by Houston. The Texans waived him before the start of the 2018 campaign and Miller hung with the Eagles organization last season.

Miller was a tremendous athlete at Ohio State, but a man without a position in the NFL. It’s a hard truth to realize for fans who cheered for him at The ‘Shoe. There’s a lot of guys who boast his athleticism in the NFL.

And if he couldn’t cut in Houston, which was really a perfect situation for the quarterback-turned wideout, you’ve got to wonder how much longer he’ll hang onto an NFL roster.

Just take a look around. Miller has an agent. They could read the room. The Browns have receivers, which makes this addition all the more confusing. But if no one else is calling (and we don’t know who or who wasn’t interested at this point), you go to the team that wants you.

The Browns play Tampa in the third game of the preseason and it’s unlikely Miller will be able to do much having just joined the team today. It’s more likely he plays a ton of snaps in the preseason finale, which happens to be in his home state of Ohio at FirstEngergy Stadium.

In the end, a fun signing, but one that probably won’t have a long-term impact on the organization in 2019.