Every year, there is one or two undrafted free agents that battle for a roster spot until the final cuts. Who are the three Browns undrafted free agent signing that have the best chance to make the roster?
Every season, there is always one team in the NFL that finds an undrafted free agent that contributes. That undrafted free agent may not be a future Hall of Famer like Antonio Gates, but receiving meaningful contributions from an undrafted free agent can help save seasons.
The Cleveland Browns signed 13 undrafted free agents following the draft. Of those 13 players, Cleveland signed seven offensive players, five defensive players, and a punter.
With Browns general manager John Dorsey retooling most of the roster, there could be some surprise cuts of Browns veterans. That will create chances for the undrafted free agents to snag a roster spot.
Most of the undrafted free agents may not get a roster spot. But Cleveland may want to keep them around the building. If that is the case, some of the players may end up on the Browns practice squad before the season.
So who are three of the undrafted free agents the Browns signed with the best chance to make the 53-man roster?
Desmond Harrison – Offensive Tackle, West Georgia
Harrison is a player that Dorsey is taking a risk on. Harrison has character concerns, as he was suspended at Texas twice. He played primarily as a reserve tackle for the Longhorns. After he was suspended, he spent two years away from football before playing at West Georgia in 2017.
At West Georgia, he started nine of their ten games playing at left tackle. He was able to manhandle any defender that went against him, but he was playing lower competition than what he should have been playing against.
Harrison has all of the athletic traits that an NFL team would want from an offensive lineman. But as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described him, that was all he needed to be successful at West Georgia.
"“Boom-or-bust prospect who has elite length and athletic ability but is missing the consistency and resume of future NFL starter. Harrison’s West Georgia tape is filled with jaw-dropping plays but he was overwhelming inferior competition and doing it without much technique.”"
The reason why he has a good chance to make the Browns roster is because Cleveland does not have the best tackle depth, especially since Joe Thomas retired. Chris Hubbard will be the starting right tackle, but left tackle is an open competition.
Cleveland drafted Austin Corbett to be the next left tackle, but there is concern he may have to move inside. If Corbett can’t play left tackle, then the job will go to either Shon Coleman, Donald Stephenson, or Rod Johnson.
That is where Harrison could make a name for himself. If he can get coached up quickly and clean up his techinque, he could surprise people and win the left tackle job. But if he doesn’t win the starting job and has a good camp, he could become the Browns reserve tackle.
Evan Berry – Wide Receiver, Tennessee
Berry is the younger brother of Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro safety Eric Berry, so there are NFL bloodlines in his family. He played primarily as a defensive back while at Tennessee, and also was a return specialist.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- Cleveland Browns critics continue to misplace their judgement
- 3 Cleveland Browns players who don’t deserve another season in 2023
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
At Tennessee, he returned 53 kickoffs for 1,820 yards – an average of 34.2 yards per return – and four touchdowns. He is a dynamic player when the ball is in hands. For that reason, the Browns played him at wide receiver during rookie mini-camp so they could give him chances with the ball in his hands.
But the reason he has a good chance to make the roster is because of special teams. He has the ability as a returner that could make him the best returner the Cleveland Browns have had since Josh Cribbs was returning kicks.
Cleveland did not have a strong return game last season, often not even bringing the ball out of the endzone. Berry would be able to change that as a returner and putting the Browns offense in favorable field position.
The Browns have not had a kickoff returned for a touchdown since 2009 when Josh Cribbs returned three for touchdowns that season. If there was a team that would be looking for a boost in the return game, it would be the Browns.
If Cleveland can make Berry comfortable at wide receiver, he would have a very good chance to make the roster. Usually the fifth or sixth receiver is on the roster for special teams, and that would be exactly what Berry would be there for.
Trenton Thompson – Defensive Lineman, Georgia
Thompson played meaningful playing time on a stacked defense at Georgia. Thompson made 35 tackles, including three for loss in 2017. But during the 2016 season, Thompson really showed his abilities on the football field.
In 13 games, Thompson made 56 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Doing that as an interior lineman against solid competition in the SEC is very impressive.
He may not have the best size for an interior lineman at 6-foot-3 and 288 pounds. But Dorsey has been adding players that are a similar size. Thompson fits what the Browns need from interior linemen in their defense.
As a three-technique, Gregg Williams wants his players to be able to push the pocket and get to the quarterback in his aggressive defense. Thompson showed that he can do that in 2016.
Thompson does have a solid shot to make the Browns roster because of the lack of depth and competition at defensive tackle. Cleveland did not sign any true defensive tackles this offseason, while they also traded away Danny Shelton.
Next: What type of offseason Browns fan are you?
With a strong camp, Thompson has the chance to make the roster as a rotational player. He will likely have to beat out one of Jamie Meder and Caleb Brantley to get that spot. But as everybody has seen so far this offseason, Dorsey is not afraid to mix things up and get rid of Browns veterans. It would not be a shock if Thompson makes the Browns 53-man roster.