5 potential cuts from other teams the Cleveland Browns should sign.
The Cleveland Browns and new head coach Kevin Stefanski haven’t been able to get an up-front look at their roster, as the coronavirus pandemic as mean Zoom calls, instead of actual on-field practice.
The Browns have a strong roster, but there are still so many questions at various position groups. The “name” guys on the roster have a lot to prove as well, as Baker Mayfield is under pressure to prove he’s worthy of the franchise label, while Odell Beckham Jr. needs to prove that he still is an elite wideout.
Training Camp will certainly be interesting this season, if these practices actually happen and the league continues its plan to play in 2020. One of the things fans love to do is watch their teams various position battles, as everyone tries to construct their favorite roster.
Then, after you think you’ve got your 53-man roster set, the NFL holds a massive cut just after the final preseason contest of the year. Waives of players become available and general managers scramble to look smarter than their peers by signing newly released players.
The Browns were aggressive in free agency, as Andrew Berry promised he’d be active in upgrading the roster. With that in mind, he’s likely to continue this trend as players became available in August.
If these players become available, the Browns should swoop in an add them to the roster.
1. Shawn Williams, S, Bengals
By not placing a great sense of urgency on the linebacker position, the Cleveland Browns may show a lot of defensive formations with two linebackers and three safeties. It’s something the defense showed a lot last season, unfortunately, the defensive backfield’s inability to tackle kind of sunk the whole experiment.
However, with Joe Woods on the job, the Browns figure to run the scheme again. Andrew Berry drafted Grant Delpit, who the Browns believe can make an impact as a rookie. Delpit’s expected to start at free safety.
The team also signed Karl Joseph, and it’s expected he’ll receive starting reps.
Backups currently include veteran Andrew Sendejo and Sheldrick Redwine. Redwine is a young player who’s still unproven, but he looks like a better bet to fill the strong safety position.
Perhaps the Browns should look down I-71 for help if the Bengals decide to part ways with Shawn Williams. who was Cincinnati’s leading tackler last season with 114 takedowns. The Bengals invested heavily in their secondary this past offseason, and Williams, who’s due to make $4 million this season, is expendable.
There’s some talk that if Williams stays in Cincinnati, he’ll fulfill a hybrid linebacker/safety roll. If it doesn’t work out in Cincinnati, there should be a role for the 29-year-old on the state’s north shore.
2. Jarrad Davis, MLB, Lions
The Browns need a middle linebacker, and the Lions may well go ahead and cut one in former 2017 first-round pick Jarrad Davis.
The Lions have already soured on Davis, as they recently declined to pick up his fifth-year option. The organization would save $2 million by releasing him before the start of the season.
So, if he didn’t work out in Detroit, what makes him fit in Cleveland? It’s a point well taken, but perhaps, one worth exploring. Middle linebacker is the greatest position of need and Davis bring experience.
Plus, perhaps I’m just too high on Joe Woods, but sometimes, someone like Davis who’s battled injuries and inconsistencies throughout his short career, just needs to see some fresh faces and a change of scenery.
Davis made headlines this offseason for transforming his physique, but if the Lions do decide to move on, they’ll lean on newly acquired players Reggie Ragland, as well as Jamie Collins, who’s reuniting with Matt Patricia.
The Browns haven’t done much at linebacker, other than draft LSU tackling machine Jacob Phillips midway through the draft. He possesses great potential, but it’s a lot to ask the the former Tiger to step in and start.
Notably, the Browns let Joe Schobert walk in free agency, while cutting Christian Kirksey this offseason.
3. Raekwon McMillan, MLB, Dolphins
While the Cleveland Browns basically ignored the linebacker position, the Miami Dolphins took the opposite approach, loading up at the position group.
Newly acquired players include Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Kamu Grugier-Hill.
Now, the collection of bodies may leave former Ohio State Buckeye and former 2017 second-round draft pick Raekwon McMillan as the odd man out.
If the Dolphins decide to on with McMillan, they’ll save $1.1 in the process.
Perhaps the Browns’ analytically driven front office will spot something in McMillan, if he becomes available. The former five-star recruit started to flash in 2019, even earning a spot on PFF’s first-quarter all-pro team. The website claimed he graded higher than all other qualified candidates at the time, while he was also emerging as a beast when it comes to stopping the run.
McMillan had a rough start to his pro career, tearing his ACL during his rookie preseason. He started all 16 games in year two, totaling 105 tackles. After the heralded start to the 2019 campaign, McMillan cooled off, and then was put out of commission with injury for the final quarter of the campaign.
If released, he’d be an obvious low-risk, high-reward signing that shouldn’t require a big financial commitment.
4. Reiff, OL, Vikings
Browns fans mostly give their team high marks for making Jedrick Wills the 10th overall selection. The hope is the Alabama product will step in at left tackle and be a stalwart for the next decade.
Unfortunately, while Wills projects as a the long-time starter, the left tackle has been robbed of an offseason program. Sure, he’s been active on the Browns’ Zoom calls, but there’s no substitute for getting to Berea and going up against other professional players, even if it is glorified flag football as players run around in T-shirts and shorts.
There was some speculation that Jason Peters would be an option, but the veteran tackle remains unsigned.
The Browns seem comfortable with where their line stands, but perhaps Kevin Stefanski will make a plea for a familiar face if the Vikings part ways with Riley Reiff. Reiff brings versatility, having started as a tackle, but it’s expected he can also move to guard.
Speaking of guard, the position is the most uncertain spot on the line, as Wyatt Teller is expected to get the first crack at keeping the job, although Drew Forbes and Chris Hubbard could also be options.
The big storyline for the line this offseason will be switching to Stefanski’s zone blocking scheme. The line hasn’t been able to workout together, so it’ll be interesting to see how this impacts the group.
If Reiff gets cut, Stefanski may want the familiarity he has the Vikings offensive coordinator in 2019.
It should be noted that the Vikings would save $8.8 million if they release the veteran. What Reiff would get on the open market may very well determine if the Browns would be a serious contender for him in the event he actually becomes available.
5. Gabe Jackson, OG, Raiders
Prior to the NFL Draft, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell forecasted a trade, in which the Browns would make a draft pick swap with the Raiders. There was also a player coming to Cleveland in that deal, though, and his name is Gabe Jackson.
Jackson was a 2014 draft pick, who’s played in 83 games throughout his career. The 28-year-old was pretty dependable a season ago, committing just four penalties while surrounding five sacks in 707 offensive snaps.
Well, a trade didn’t go down, and that looks like a wise decision on the Browns part, because Jackson looks like a prime candidate to get cut. It’s not that he’s a bad player, it’s that he’s making too much money and the Raiders took Clemson’s John Simpson in the fourth round. There’s been some talk that Simpson could step in and start, which makes Jackson even more expendable.
The Raiders did try and deal Jackson, putting him on the block, but other teams correctly realized the veteran could be had if they just waited Las Vegas out.
Additionally, the Raiders house Denzelle Good, Jordan Devey and former Brown Eric Kush on the roster.
Las Vegas would save over $9 million outright by simply filing the paperwork and releasing Jackson.
Considering the Browns uncertainty at the position, Jackson would be a major get for the line, especially considering he’s only 28.