Cleveland Browns: 5 players who must show out vs New York Giants in Preseason Week 2

The Cleveland Browns have trimmed their roster down to 85 players. Today we take a look at five players that need to show out in their week 2 preseason game against the Giants to give themselves a shot to make the final 53-man roster.

With not many big-time decisions to be made regarding the top of their roster, the Cleveland Browns have a ton of competition to make the bottom of their 53-man roster. It is a numbers game, and quality depth is at a premium.

When it is all said and done there are going to be several NFL-level players left on the Browns cutting room floor. These preseason games are going to go a long way in determining who sticks around in the orange and brown.

Here are five Browns who need to have strong showings in the upcoming preseason tilt against the Giants if they want to remain in Cleveland.

Cleveland Browns: 5. Jordan Franks, TE

When Stephen Carlson went down with a season-ending injury, it provided two holes. The first hole was in the tight end room as Carlson was the leader in the clubhouse for the fourth tight end. The Browns run a ton of two tight end sets, and the general consensus was (and still is) that the team would carry four players at the position.

With Austin Hooper, David Njoku, and Harrison Bryant already solidified as the top three tight ends, there is room for one more on the roster. As of right now, Jordan Franks is listed as the fourth-string tight end. However, Franks will need to seize the opportunity, or the Browns, and most notably Andrew Berry will look elsewhere to fill the position.

The second hole Carlson’s injury provided was in the special teams department. Carlson was a core special teamer in 2020 and was going to be counted on to fill that role in 2021. If Franks is going to make the 53-man roster, he has to prove that can be serviceable to special teams coach Mike Priefer.

Franks has a couple of things going for him. The six-foot-four, 246lb tight end is a good athlete and the team likes his movement ability. He also is the only tight end outside of the top three with any game experience. Although his six games played with two catches for 37 yards is hardly enough to land him the gig.

Franks is going to have to impress this Sunday versus the Giants, or the Browns might turn to Connor Davis, the only other Tight End at camp. The Browns other in-house option is do-it-all fullback Johnny Stanton, who played the position along with several others at UNLV.