4 roster bubble players the Cleveland Browns should target
By Greg Newland
The Cleveland Browns have a strong roster, but with roster cuts coming before the start of the season, look out for these four possible additions.
The free agency period certainly isn’t over in the NFL, but the Cleveland Browns focus will likely begin to shift from that to veteran roster cuts before the start of the season. At this point, if general manager Andrew Berry hasn’t signed a free agent, it doesn’t seem likely barring injuries.
What are the benefits of signing a late cut from another team? One, it’s usually a veteran player who brings great credibility and positive influence to the locker room. Two, you can usually snag these guys at a good value. Normally the cut occurs because of contract concerns. Clearly, they aren’t worth that money anymore, and they may be willing to play for less on a winning team.
The Browns are in a very interesting position this year. They have a ton of young talent that is still working into their prime, but they are lacking a bit of veteran leadership. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few guys on the roster, but no one with a ton of NFL experience.
Keep your eye on these four veterans the Browns could add based on ESPN predictions of veteran cuts by each team.
No. 4 – Ben Banogu, Defensive End
One thing Berry has proven in his short time in Cleveland, he is willing to give everyone a second chance. Look at the contracts he gave Karl Joseph and Kevin Johnson in 2020, and now Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley in 2021.
Why wouldn’t he want to give a guy like Ben Banogu a shot? Banogu was a second-round pick in 2019 and appeared in all 16 games as a rookie. He saw his playing time go down substantially in year two as he was inactive for nearly half the season.
Banogu is certainly on the outside looking in with the Colts adding Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo this draft but will someone else give him a chance.
With the Browns having a solidified top three defensive ends, giving Banogu a change of scenery could be a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. Every once in a while, a guy just needs something new and he can really shine.