Cleveland Browns: 3 cuts before 2021 season that would surprise no one

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Jan 11, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Sheldon Day (96) reacts after the 49ers made a defensive stop against the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter in a NFC Divisional Round playoff football game at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. DT Sheldon Day

The Browns defensive tackle room looks a lot different now than it did in 2020. Of the eight players in the room right now, only Jordan Elliott played for Cleveland last season.

Sheldon Day was technically with the team, but only as a practice squad member for the season’s final month. Despite his status as a fifth-year veteran at the time, this was allowed due to the NFL’s new practice squad rules as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s extremely difficult to see Day beating out any of Elliott, Andrew Billings, Tommy Togiai, Malik Jackson, Marvin Wilson, or even Malik McDowell for a job, but he could fill the same role he did last year; an emergency vet on the practice squad to be called up if needed. Much better to have that player be a veteran than a rookie, and Day has been a decent backup for three different teams now.

Cleveland seems to be taking the quantity over quality route here, at least to a degree. The room is very cheap, and likely to be constantly rotated in and out over the duration of a game. It would be wise to have playable depth within reach at a moment’s notice.

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