Cleveland Browns: Devon Cajuste, the people’s champ

Tight end Devon Cajuste has become the fan favorite on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ as he hopes to land a spot on the Cleveland Browns 53-man roster

Every year on the HBO show ‘Hard Knocks,’ someone steps up and becomes a favorite of fans as he tries to make his respective team’s roster. For the Cleveland Browns, that player has been tight end Devon Cajuste.

Undrafted out of Stanford in 2016, Cajuste was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers but never made their roster. He then went to the Green Bay Packers as a member of their practice squad. He was never activated to the 53-man roster.

After that season, Cajuste wasn’t heard from until the Browns came calling in January and added him to their roster for the 2018 season. He now has become a featured player on ‘Hard Knocks,’ mainly due to the story surrounding his father.

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Gregory Cajuste has struggled through a stroke and a tracheotomy as well as three heart attacks. He’s told his son that he doesn’t have much time left and that’s made fans want this father have the chance to see his son make the final roster.

On Friday night, he again did his best to make his dad proud. The young tight end pulled in a 26-yard reception and the home crowd blew up and chanted ‘juice’ in support of him. He recently spoke about that and was humbled by the outburst.

"“There aren’t words really to describe that feeling, just what the stadium erupted with I kind of absorbed all of that on the inside and it was probably one of the coolest moments.” — Cajuste said about the fan support via Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com"

In his first game, Cajuste had two catches for 27 yards. He’s been playing hard and making the most of his chances, but still is a longshot for the final roster.

Currently, the Browns will be starting David Njoku with Darren Fells and Seth DeValve rounding things out. Unless they decide to keep a fourth player at the spot, there may not be room for Cajuste.

That won’t make him any less of a fan favorite and will only endear him to people more should he crack the 53-man roster.