Cleveland Browns: 5 players who could still surprisingly be cut

3. OL Chris Hubbard

Chris Hubbard was arguably the most valuable backup offensive linemen in the league last season, so it would be a shock to see him cut. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility, however. He’s in the final year of his contract, on the wrong side of 30, and is coming off a serious knee injury late in the 2020 season, the full extent of which was never quite revealed. He reportedly suffered a dislocated kneecap as well as torn ligaments, so that could mean pretty much anything.

It remains to be seen when he’ll be able to return to practice (he was on the sideline during minicamp), but in the meantime, some potential replacements are getting work done. The team drafted James Hudson to be their swing tackle of the future, and he will also be cross-trained at guard to add more versatility.

Second-year man Alex Taylor is a tailor-made scheme fit (please clap) and his ceiling is just about as tall as his immense height (please clap again). Both Michael Dunn and Blake Hance performed admirably in difficult circumstances at the end of the season, and 2019 sixth-rounder Drew Forbes is back in the fold.

Releasing Hubbard would save the team $3.6 million against the cap, which is a significant amount. Is that worth moving on from great depth at four different positions? Probably not, but if any of the young guys prove themselves, it may be a discussion at least worth having, if only to immediately shoot down. Stranger things have happened.