5 Cleveland Browns players on the roster bubble heading into OTAs

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 11: Running back D'Ernest Johnson #30 of the Cleveland Browns runs for a first down during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. The (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 11: Running back D'Ernest Johnson #30 of the Cleveland Browns runs for a first down during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. The (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
Jan 10, 2021; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) runs away from Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Mack Wilson (51) in the fourth quarter of an AFC Wild Card playoff game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

4. LB Mack Wilson

Mack Wilson has been a fan favorite since being drafted for three main reasons; his love of the game, his social media presence, and an inflated reputation as a result of being an Alabama linebacker. Mock drafts routinely had him as a second or even first-round pick, yet his on-field play over his first two campaigns clearly shows that he fell to the fifth round for a very good reason.

He struggled mightily early on as a rookie, but did show improvement towards the end of the 2019 season. Unfortunately, he failed to continue that development in 2020, and actually regressed. Without great physical tools, Wilson has to be excellent mentally, and he just isn’t.

He’s consistently slow to react and there are more blown plays than quality reps on his tape. With the team having technically drafted two linebackers, it’s extremely difficult to see a place on the roster for him, especially because he doesn’t play special teams.

Opting for younger, cheaper, more versatile, and better talent with higher ceilings and higher floors as depth is the way to go, and Wilson will have to improve by leaps and bounds in training camp if he is to beat out players like Tony Fields II.