Andrew Berry implies Cleveland Browns players who he drafted may not be long for the team

Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry sounds like he’s about to give up on some top picks from previous drafts.

The Cleveland Browns keep going back to the well in the NFL Draft, hoping to find someone who can actually do the job they were drafted for. Since 2020, the Browns have taken a defensive tackle or a wide receiver in every draft. In ’20 it was Donovan Peoples-Jones and Jordan Elliot. In 2021 it was Anthony Schwartz and Tommy Togiai, in 2022 it was David Bell and Perrion Winfrey. With the exception of Peoples-Jones, no one has done anything on the football field.

That’s why in 2023, the Browns once again drafted a defensive tackle and a wide receiver, this time going with Siaki Ita and Cedric Tillman.

From the draft alone, the Browns have four defensive tackles and four wide receivers (not counting the 2022 pick, Michael Woods). Then you add on all of the free agents and players traded for and both the defensive tackle and wide receiver positions are over-stuffed. Nine players at DT, and 14 at receiver.

Even if you just cut the obvious names, you still have six defensive tackles to cut down further and nine receivers. Clearly, someone’s got to go. And Andrew Berry doesn’t disagree, telling reporters (via Cleveland.com) after the draft;

"For all the guys in that room, it really is just about competition. For any player that comes in the NFL, if you’re not ready to come compete for your job, then it’s just not the league and it’s just not the sport for you. That’s the reality for young players, rookies and vets. That’s just kind of the way it is, and that’s kind of the way that we’ll build out the roster."

But is anyone truly safe? Well, one name may be;

"David  (Bell)— I’ve used this comparison before — his skill set is more in line with Jarvis (Landry) when he was here, where he’s a guy that has good size, strength, catches the ball really well, may not be the fastest, but he’s smooth. He’s a good route runner. So the way we’ll go about looking at the receiver room as we get the roster to 53 is making sure that we have the appropriate skill sets that allows Kevin and the offensive staff to call the game with enough flexibility in the passing game"

Who is likely to be cut by the Cleveland Browns?

If you go by PFF, Jordan Elliot, Tommy Togiai and Perrion Winfrey were all terrible last year, ranking from #126-#130 in the league last year among all qualified defensive tackles. These are Aaron Donald types, smaller, quicker, and supposedly very strong. It’s clear that Jim Schwartz doesn’t care about Aaron Donald or finding the next one of him, he wants big hosses up front.

So it’s possible all three men could be gone. However, Berry isn’t on board with cutting everyone who doesn’t fit, saying;

"While Jim’s scheme has differences than what we’ve played in the past, there’s probably a lot more overlap than there isn’t. So, with Jim’s system, there may be a little bit of a different coverage philosophy than how we deploy the front in terms of the defensive linemen’s responsibilities. That may change a little bit, but the profile of players is actually very similar."

I think it’s likely that Elliot is gone, which would drop your defensive tackles to Sheldon Tomlinson, Ika, Winfrey, Togiai, and Roderick Perry. Unless Perry just falls apart, it’s likely that either Togiai or Winfrey is going.

For the receivers, we know that Amari Cooper, Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore, Marquise Goodwin, and now Tillman is staying. That’s already five players. Then who? Bell? Schwartz? Woods? Well, Woods likely won’t be cut as he’s on IR already. Jakeem Grant likely won’t be cut either, which gives you six receivers right there.

It’s very possible that Bell and Schwartz both get cut this year unless either one gets “hurt” again. Then you could see the Browns use IR to keep them on the team without having to cut them and saving them for a Cooper and possibly Peoples-Jones-less future.