5 unexpected Cleveland Browns who could be gone by the start of the season (and how)

The Cleveland Browns have to cut 27 players.

The Cleveland Browns, like the other 29 teams in the NFL, have to make some pretty tough decisions in the coming weeks. The team has to find 27 players worth cutting, or more specifically 53 players worth keeping, by the start of next week. We know most of the names getting cut, as they’re late camp additions, undrafted free agents, or occupy positions that have plenty of depth.

Yet, we already know the Browns won’t hesitate to cut someone that the fans had high hopes for. We saw that after the first preseason game with the release of Sheldon Day. The defensive tackle was not only expected to make the team but start.

That didn’t end up happening. So the Browns have to decide who they’re going to keep and the team could make a decision or two that’s surprising but understandable. After all, there may be a player or two who want a trade, so could the Browns make a trade if it means keeping another player they’re very high on? Maybe.

Now, to be clear, this is not a list of five moves that will happen, it’s merely a list of five possibilities where, at best, one of them happens.

Five surprising Cleveland Browns who could be gone by Week 1

Josh Rosen (cut)

If you’re in the camp of fans who think the Browns will carry three quarterbacks, Josh Rosen isn’t going anywhere. If you’re in the camp who thinks they’ll only carry two like in years past, then you can see why Rosen is on this list. It’s very possible that they retain him, but it’s just not likely.

D’Ernest Johnson (Trade)

The Browns have six running backs on this team. They’re going to cut John Kelly, and frankly, it’d be football malpractice for them to carry five running backs into the season. So someone’s gotta go. If a trade can be had for D’Ernest Johnson, he makes sense. He’s in the last year of his deal and unless the team opts to move Kareem Hunt, Johnson seems like the likeliest candidate. Then again, Demetric Felton could be cut as well and that solves this issue.

Jacob Phillips (cut/trade)

It really feels like the Browns are giving Jacob Phillips one last chance to show what he can do before they cut him. For my money, I’d rather carry a linebacking corp that featured Jordan Kunaszyk over Phillips. Phillips could be traded due to his age, and the idea that another team could get the most out of him.

Kareem Hunt (trade)

The Cleveland Browns don’t want to pay Kareem Hunt, so he wants a trade, but Andrew Berry won’t trade him. So Hunt wants to get paid then, but the Browns won’t pay him…do you see how dumb this is? It’s not like Hunt has been this unstoppable beast behind Nick Chubb, D’Ernest Johnson had much better production, so why not just trade Hunt, re-sign Johnson and move forward?

Tommy Togiai (cut/trade)

We know Anthony Schwartz is getting cut. He’s been awful, you know who else hasn’t been consistently good? Tommy Togiai. Due to his age, you might be able to trade him for a fifth or seventh-round draft pick, but that’s about it.