Cleveland Browns: Michael Dunn may have earned himself a roster spot

The Cleveland Browns fourth-string left guard played his heart out

With All-Pro LG Joel Bitonio sidelined against the Pittsburgh Steelers thanks to COVID-19, the Cleveland Browns were forced to turn not to Bitonio’s backup, and not the third-stringer, but Michael Dunn, a 2017 undrafted free agent who had spent the 2020 season on Cleveland’s practice squad.

With Chris Hubbard and Nick Harris on injured reserve, Dunn was forced into action against the Steelers, in a Wild Card game, against probably the best interior defensive line in the NFL, with the Browns having practiced just twice over the past two weeks. Not a great situation to be in, and considering quarterback Baker Mayfield was pulled in the third quarter of the Week 6 matchup to avoid further injury, things didn’t look so good.

The Browns needed Dunn to just be not terrible in order to have a chance against Pittsburgh. He played 54 snaps before suffering a calf injury, allowing just a single pressure and earning an 82.4 run-block grade from Pro Football Focus. Considering he had to work on his pass set over pavement, his performance was incredible.

Yes, it’s just one game, but if a player can make the trio of Cameron Heyward, Tyson Alualu, and Stephon Tuitt practically invisible, he can do that against other defensive lines. Dunn is under cheap team control for a few more seasons, and may have just played himself into a full-time backup role in 2021.

Cleveland’s starting offensive line for the next two seasons is set: Jedrick Wills Jr., Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin will anchor one of the very best units in the game. Their depth has been tested this year, as Hubbard, Harris, Kendall Lamm have all played significant snaps as backups, not to mention Blake Hance, who just got to Cleveland, didn’t practice with the team, and logged 15 snaps against Pittsburgh, allowing zero pressures.

The Browns will be faced with some difficult decisions next season regarding their OL depth. Lamm is a free agent. Drew Forbes opted out of the 2020 season, but flashed during the 2019 preseason and has loads of potential, in addition to being a perfect scheme fit. He played tackle in college but practiced at guard in 2019. Rookie Alex Taylor stands 6-8, 301 pounds with rare athleticism for his size. He’s also a scheme fit and has positional versatility.

There are only four backup spots available, and seven players vying for those slots. It may make the most sense to try to keep Hance on the practice squad and move on from Lamm, which is a shame because he’s a very capable backup who has filled in for both Wills and Conklin.

That leaves five players remaining in contention. Harris is a center, so he’ll make the team. Hubbard’s versatility and dead cap if cut (over $2.6 million) makes him a near-lock. There will be a good player left out, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Browns attempt to stash him on the practice squad but another team swoops in and claims him.

Whether Michael Dunn is on the roster next season or not, he’ll live forever as a Cleveland legend, having played a crucial role in the team’s first playoff victory in 26 years.