Cleveland Browns: 5 players feeling the most pressure in 2016
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns are going through another season of change and these five players are feeling the most pressure.
With every regime change that washes through Cleveland Browns headquarters in Berea brings with it a subsequent turnover of players on the roster.
This off-season has been no different under executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson.
Out are the veterans who are either on the wrong side of 30 (Randy Starks and Karlos Dansby), or who are under-performing to the new way of thinking (Brian Hartline, Dwayne Bowe and Donte Whitner).
In their stead are placeholder free agents (Rahim Moore, Demario Davis and Justin Tuggle) and an impressive haul of 14 draft picks, led by wide receiver Corey Coleman, the team’s first-round pick.
Jackson and the coaching staff completed the off-season program this week after working with the players through rookie minicamp, Organized Team Activities and the recent three-day mandatory minicamp.
The players are now until the start of training camp in July, but did not depart without a clear message from Jackson.
“It’s really important that the men in this locker room don’t let this team go backwards because they have established a really good foundation and a really good work ethic,” he said. “What is really important is that they come back ready to hit the ground running and understand that we are here to get some business done each and every day. I think they will, I really do. To a man, I would be very surprised if they don’t come back here in tip top shape, ready to practice and ready and eager to get going.”
While some are projecting that seven of the 14 draft choices will be starting come this fall, that may be a bit of a stretch. However, the competition for a roster spot should be strong, meaning that some familiar faces may be entering their final training camp in Orange and Brown.
The following are five players who may be feeling the pressure to make it to this point next summer while still a member of the Cleveland Browns.
Next: Running back Isaiah Crowell