The NFL offseason is in full swing at this point and teams are getting started with their offseason programs that will run from May to June. As teams get back out onto the field and get a closer look at their new-look rosters, certain players are going to be put under the microscope. Call it make-or-break, call it the roster bubble -- call it whatever you want, but there are certain players on the Cleveland Browns who are going to be under some added pressure here even ahead of OTAs.
The Browns have good depth all over the roster. Aside from maybe the question mark of what Deshaun Watson brings to the table, this is a roster with arguably the most talent 1-90 around the league. With that being the case, even some high-profile players are bound to be on the chopping block.
Let's take a look at a handful who might be in danger of losing their jobs approaching OTAs.
1. David Bell, WR
It feels like wide receiver David Bell consistently gets brought up in these kinds of discussions, and for good reason.
The Browns have basically been unable to carve out a role for him and have upgraded the position multiple times since taking him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Purdue. Last offseason, they traded for Elijah Moore and drafted Cedric Tillman. This offseason, they traded for Jerry Jeudy.
There's no doubt that Bell has talent and is still a young player worth investing in, but do the Browns have the snaps available for him? Is he going to be able to separate himself at OTAs? He's a recent "high" draft pick who could be on the outside looking in even ahead of OTAs. I wouldn't be surprised if teams started calling about trading for him (if they haven't already).
2. Elijah Moore, WR
Speaking of the wide receiver position, I don't believe David Bell is alone in being on the proverbial "chopping block".
It's doubtful the Browns are going to simply look for ways to cut Elijah Moore, but he had a rather disappointing first year in Cleveland posting the following numbers:
- 104 targets
- 59 receptions
- 640 yards
- 2 TDs
The Browns definitely force-fed targets to Elijah Moore last season and rightfully so. They traded to acquire him and gave up the 42nd overall pick in the deal last year, so it was essential to see if he could work within the offense. It's also at least a little understandable that the Browns weren't able to get Moore rolling without Deshaun Watson on the field for a majority of the season. That certainly threw a wrench into the plans.
But still, it didn't look like the guy we'd seen back in 2021 for the New York Jets was out there. That guy averaged 12.3 yards per touch and scored six total touchdowns. That's the guy the Browns traded for, but Moore is going to need a big offseason to prove he's not on the chopping block with so many hungry young receivers behind him on the depth chart.
3. Pierre Strong Jr., RB
The battle at the running back position this offseason is going to be one of the more interesting battles for the Cleveland Browns.
Of course, the primary intrigue is going to be surrounding the return/health of Nick Chubb, the team's superstar at the position, but the Browns went out and made some other moves to fortify their depth here over the course of the 2024 offseason.
They added Nyheim Hines, coming off of an injury of his own, but he's 9 months removed from surgery and could end up being a much more dynamic addition to the offense than anyone is really giving credit for at the moment.
9 months out of surgery. God is good 🙏🏽❤️
— Nyheim Hines (@TheNyNy7) May 8, 2024
The Browns also are bringing in D'Onta Foreman, a big and physical back who should be able to give them a lot of carries in case Chubb isn't fully ready. Jerome Ford is back after leading the team with over 800 rushing yards a season ago. So where does that leave 2023 trade acquisition Pierre Strong Jr.?
Strong was acquired last year in a trade with the Patriots and got 68 total touches for 338 yards and a touchdown. He played in all 17 games and has added value on special teams where he played 55 percent of the snaps in 2023. Still, with all of the additions the Browns have made, you can't help but wonder if Strong's job is in jeopardy.
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