Cleveland Browns: 4 under the radar players vs the Bengals

Porter Gustin and Bryan Cox Jr.

The Browns defensive line has been in full-on emergency mode since Myles Garrett decided to play a game of whack-a-mole on November 14th. It’s been all hands on deck ever since. The move proved to be the undoing for the Browns postseason aspirations, but it has provided an opportunity to players who wouldn’t have had that chance otherwise.

Both Porter Gustin and Bryan Cox Jr are making cases for themselves being quality depth pieces for this Browns team going forward. Both players started the season off on different teams and were signed by Cleveland in November. The defensive ends have also both seen their snap counts increase as the season has unfolded.

Gustin is a classic John Dorsey reclamation project. The former USC product has good measurables (size, speed, and power) and was a highly rated recruit coming out of high school. Dorsey loves him some upside, and that’s what he has in Gustin. Injuries have been Gustin’s undoing, even going back to his collegiate career. So far, he has been able to avoid that during his time in Cleveland.

Cox came into the league with a strong NFL lineage. His father, Bryan Cox Sr, was a three-time pro bowler at linebacker. He was brought into Cleveland because of his familiarity with Steve Wilks’ defense, from their brief time in Carolina together. Cox has shown a tremendous motor and tenacity in the five games he has played for the Browns. He has even started the last two contests for Cleveland.

Gustin and Cox will be playing for their roster lives this Sunday in Cincinnati. Opportunities are far and few between in this league and they need to put as much good stuff on tape as they possibly can. Expect both to put their best foot forward in the season finale.