The Cleveland Browns will have a ton of competition in camp this year. See which five players may not even get a shot to play a meaningful snap in 2021.
Every single team in the NFL will have some difficult decisions to get their final roster in place before week one of the NFL season. That includes the Cleveland Browns who likely have 60-65 players on the roster currently who will make a day one depth chart. The issue is, the Browns will only be able to keep 53 of those players.
Cuts are always the toughest part for fans. The coaches and even players understand that this is a business, but it’s so easy for us fans to get attached. I fully admit that I was devastated by the release of Sheldon Richardson. However, I do see why they did it. $12 million was a lot of money to be paying a guy past his prime when you could sign a guy like Jadeveon Clowney to help replace him for less.
No matter the year, cuts will be tough, but with such a loaded roster there could be some real surprises in 2021. Check out these five guys that may not even play a meaningful snap in 2021 for the Cleveland Browns.
5. D’Ernest Johnson
Undrafted in the 2018 draft, running back D’Ernest Johnson ended up signing with the Cleveland Browns before the 2019 season. He has never been a major piece of the offense, but he has been effective when needed.
Perhaps his brightest spot was the Dallas Cowboys game last year when Nick Chubb was injured. Johnson backed up Kareem Hunt and had a couple of nice runs vs. a horrendous Cowboys defense.
Expect Johnson to be released to make room for 2021 sixth-round pick, Demetric Felton. The UCLA product has tremendous hands and many questioned if he would fully transition to wide receiver in the NFL.
It appears the Browns are committed to keeping him at running back, but his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield will push him above Johnson on making the roster. Don’t expect Felton to get a ton of snaps, but his versatility will have a big value to the staff.
4. Sheldrick Redwine, Safety
With the 119th pick in the 2019 draft, the Cleveland Browns selected safety, Sheldrick Redwine, from The University of Miami. Many had high expectations for this pick and expected him to have a shot at starting even as a rookie.
Things never really progressed, and although he saw the field 27 games over the last two seasons, there were only 8 starts and most of those were because of a ton of unfortunate injuries in the secondary. For every good play Redwine made, he seemed to have two where he was completely out of position and gave up big plays.
The addition of John Johnson, the return of Grant Delpit, and the emergence of Ronnie Harrison last year will do him no favors either. These three guys will be the slated starters, but the big question will come down to the backups.
The Browns drafted safety, Richard LeCounted in the fifth round of the draft this season. He has had injury concerns, but if healthy, many had him graded as a second or third-round talent. Andrew Berry is expecting a full recovery, and he may slide in as the fourth safety on the roster.
Because the Browns know what they are getting with Redwine, I see them moving on and seeing what a guy like Javante Moffatt or Montrel Meander has to offer.
3. Porter Gustin, EDGE
A guy that was asked to step in a lot last season after the injury to Olivier Vernon was Porter Gustin. At times he filled the void nicely, but at other times he was just a body at the position and not much more. Gustin was a former five-star recruit and then headed to USC where injuries always seemed to follow.
After going undrafted, Gustin has spent two seasons with the Browns where he has appeared in 20 games and started three. Gustin was much more suited as a third or fourth option and came in with a high motor.
The addition of Clowney and Takk McKinley as well as the emergency of Curtis Weave and Joe Jackson will likely be the end of Gustin on the Browns roster. He will be a guy that I hate to see go, but there is far too much talent now at the position to keep him.
Expect Myles Garrett and Clowney to get at least 75 percent of the snaps, with McKinley being the rotational guy and capable backup in case of an injury. Jackson and Weaver will be the big wild cards for Gustin. Because of age and talent, look for Gustin to be the odd man out.
2. Sione Takitaki, Linebacker
After being in an extremely weak position last year, the Browns have really beefed up at linebacker for the 2021 season. They signed Anthony Walker in free agency, drafted Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in round-two this year, and will get Jacob Phillips back to full health.
The big question will be which 2019 draft pick will be let go. Third-rounder, Sione Takitaki, or fifth-rounder, Mack Wilson. Both have played a significant amount of snaps, and neither has really progressed to starting-caliber linebackers.
Unfortunately, I see Takitaki as the odd man out. Although he improved in 2020, the skillset just isn’t there and his game doesn’t match the 4-2-5 scheme well at all. Wilson fits the mold better and could have a good year after a knee injury really slowed him down in 2020.
Veteran Malcolm Smith and 2021 fifth-round pick Tony Fields will likely round out the last two spots at linebacker. Smith could be the one to go over Takitaki, but his locker room presence and playoff experience will help him make the roster.
Linebacker is one position that could be wide open, but either way, there will be someone let go who has a lot of starting experience in the NFL.
1. Rashard Higgins, Wide Receiver
I’m going to get a lot of grief for this one, but another player who could be on watch to be released is Rashard Higgins. The Colorado State product has spent his entire five-year career with the Cleveland Browns, but I have some hesitation if he makes the roster in 2021.
In my opinion, Higgins isn’t that much behind Landry as far as what he provides to the team. If he got more snaps, I think he would be just as effective. However, I don’t see Berry moving on from Landry until the end of the 2021 season.
After this year, you will likely see a complete rebuild at the receiver position, and the big question will be if Odell Beckham is included or excluded in that rebuild.
The Browns run an offense that is in a two-receiver set a lot, and a four-receiver set very minimally. With Beckham, Landry, and Donovan Peoples-Jones on the roster, I’m just not sure there is a need for Higgins, especially with rookie Anthony Schwartz in the mix.
This will be an extremely tough decision and one that fans will not like at all, but it could be best for the organization moving forward.
The bottom line, the Browns aren’t going to spend $30 million next year on two receivers, so changes will be coming sooner than later to the entire position.