Cleveland Browns Bubble Player(s) No. 2: D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton
This is where the rubber meets the road on the Browns roster. No positional room was more affected than the Browns running back room. This is crazy considering they only drafted one running back when they took Jerome Ford with the 156th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
But Ford’s selection is going to trickle a domino effect throughout the roster. D’Ernest Johnson is set to make more money than any other third-string running back in the league, but he has proven to be effective when called upon. But barring an injury to Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt, it is hard to imagine the Browns paying a player that much money with the hopes of not playing him.
Then you have Demetric Felton, whose value has crashed this offseason following the acquisition of uber-returner Jakeem Grant. Not providing any flexibility as a return man could spell the end of Felton making the active roster. The proverbial nail in the coffin could have been last week when the coaching staff stated that Felton would not be moonlighting as a receiver in 2022.
No matter how it shakes out, the Browns will not be rostering five running backs. Both Johnson and Felton are candidates for hitting the midnight train.