3 early standouts at Cleveland Browns OTAs

Earlier this week, the Cleveland Browns OTAs began and while these workouts aren't padded, there's still plenty to learn. That's especially true for the Browns in 2023 as they're implementing a new defense under Jim Schwartz and also have Bubba Ventrone taking over as the new special teams coordinator.

There are also plenty of new faces in Berea as several free agent additions, as well as the 2023 rookie class, are getting acclimated to life in Northeast Ohio. And the good news is, the majority of the players who are standing out in a positive way are new faces.

Here, we look at three Browns who are quickly making a name for themselves during OTAs.

3. Browns S, Juan Thornhill

With the addition of Dalvin Tomlinson, Za'Darius Smith, and Elijah Moore, it's easy to forget about Juan Thornhill also joining the Browns this offseason. That's saying a lot about the talent the other additions bring to the table since Thornhill was an impressive signing.

A former second-round pick, he enters his fifth season in the NFL with 234 tackles and eight picks in his career. He's also coming off his second Super Bowl win and is bringing a ton of enthusiasm to the Browns defense.

On the field, Thornhill is already proving to be a versatile weapon. Known for his ability to play deep coverage, the veteran safety says that Jim Schwartz has him moving all around the field, which is allowing him and his teammates to learn every position and just play fast.

“He’s not really putting guys in a free safety spot, a strong safety spot,” Thornhill said via Ashley Bastock of Cleveland.com. “We’re just playing left and right, just basically so we can learn every position, pretty much. So I like him because he just let guys play football and play fast.”

Safety was an issue in 2022 and adding Thornhill and Rodney McLeod this year should go a long way toward fixing that problem.

2. Browns WR, Elijah Moore

As good as Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones were for the Browns in 2022, the wide receiver corps was still missing something. They had the ability to move the ball methodically and while there was the occasional explosive play, they didn't have that deep threat who could stretch the defense or take a small slant pass and turn it into something huge.

That's why they sent the No. 42 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the New York Jets to bring in Elijah Moore — as well as the No. 74 selection. A former second-round pick out of Ole Miss, Moore is a dynamic playmaker who is electric with the ball in his hands.

His addition has generated a lot of excitement — even to the point that we're all getting fired up about passes in shorts and no pads. Of course, it's hard not to enjoy this when you see that Deshaun Watson is not only looking for him constantly, but they're already looking to have a decent rapport.

Moore had 80 receptions for 984 yards and six touchdowns in his first two seasons in the league. But he's never been a full-time starter and has had some rough quarterback play during his time with the Jets.

Watson is a far superior passer than Zach Wilson, Mike White, or Joe Flacco. That, coupled with the fact that he's not in the coach's dog house for whatever reason, should help him make the most out of this second chance.

1. Browns DT, Maurice Hurst. Jr.

There were a couple of big additions to the defensive line this offseason, headlined by Dalvin Tomlinson and rookie Siaki Ika. While they were getting the attention leading up to OTAs, it's one of the quieter signings standing out so far.

Maurice Hurst, Jr., a former standout at Michigan, was added for depth at defensive tackle — and so far, he's proving to be much more than that. Early on, he's been making waves and Ashley Bastock of Cleveland.com says he's even taken snaps with the first team.

"Hurst looked good on Wednesday in individual and team drills, getting a lot of reps in the latter -- including with the first team. Now granted, some key names weren’t there and Siaki Ika and Dalvin Tomlinson (arguably the only sure-fire interior starter) are still trying to get acclimated. There’s only so much to take from these workouts in particular, too, but Hurst’s rushing ability could allow him the chance at a resurgence year in Cleveland."

Bastock, Cleveland.com

A former fifth-round pick, Hurst has always had the talent but he entered the league with concerns about a heart condition that caused his draft stock to plummet. Since entering the league, he's proven he belongs and while concerns over his heart haven't been an issue, his overall durability has.

Hurst has played just two games over the past two seasons and is looking to put that behind him with the Browns.

As he's already showing, if he can stay on the field, his ability to rush the passer from the interior is going to be a huge plus on this defensive line.