Rookies report to training camp on Monday and the veterans will be right behind them on Tuesday. Once everyone is at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, practices will kick off on Wednesday, July 24.
For returning players, these next few weeks will be all about shaking off the rust and getting back to work. For some of the new faces, this will be their chance to make an impression and land a spot on the 53-man roster.
With that being said, here are four dark horse candidates who could steal a spot
Ahmarean Brown, Wide Receiver/Returner
Ahmarean Brown had a promising start to his collegiate career, going for 396 yards and seven touchdowns on 21 receptions for Georgia Tech. From there, he fell off and after spending two years with the Yellow Jackets and three with South Carolina, he had 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns on 92 catches.
He's still an intriguing prospect who said in an interview with Noah Weiskopf of The OBR that he ran a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash while preparing for his pro day. He put up a 4.31 officially, which left him disappointed.
The speedster knows it will take more than that to make this roster — and also understands being 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds doesn't help him either. That's why he's eager to get to work and wants to try his hand as a returner.
"A guy my size, you have to be able to do more than one thing to stay on the field," Brown told Noah Weiskopf of The OBR. "I'm here for the team, I'm here to help us in any way that I possibly can and me being a returner is for sure something I'm looking forward to."
Brown didn't return the ball much during his NCAA days but if he can prove to be a weapon on special teams, he might force the team's hand.
Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Tight End
David Njoku and Jordan Akins own the top two spots at tight end. The feeling heading into camp is that free agent addition Giovanni Ricci has the No. 3 spot locked up and his versatility to play fullback will help him. Still, Zaire Mitchell-Paden remains on the roster and if he can put it all together, he can be a weapon.
A product of Florida Atlantic — after spending four years at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio — Mitchell-Paden enters his third season with the franchise. He has yet to see the field in a regular season game but the 6-foot-5, 257-pounder has the traits to be a matchup nightmare.
Mitchell-Paden showed promise last year with 91 yards on nine receptions during the preseason. If he continues to develop his game, he has a shot to make the roster.
Brian Allen, Center
Luke Wypler played well during his rookie season and the former Ohio State center should have a long NFL career. He's likely a lock to make the team but we probably shouldn't write off Brian Allen too quickly — especially after Wypler proved he can play guard.
Allen spent the past six seasons with the L.A. Rams and was the starting center when they won the Super Bowl following the 2021 campaign. He played well enough to earn a three-year extension worth $24 million ahead of the 2022 season but injuries cost him his job.
Released this offseason, Allen joins the Browns and gives them an experienced reserve. They need him to stay healthy but if he does, this could be another low-risk/high-reward signing that pays off for general manager Andrew Berry.
Javion Cohen, Guard
Cleveland has a top-tier interior offensive line with Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, and Ethan Pocic. Their bench was vastly improved this offseason when they selected Zak Zinter in Round 3 of the NFL Draft and signed Brian Allen in free agency. Throw in Michael Dunn and Luke Wypler and the Browns could put together a starting unit they would feel comfortable with.
That's why it will be hard for Javion Cohen to make the 53-man roster but he could still find a way.
Cohen finished his collegiate career with Miami after spending three years with Alabama. He's known as a mauler in the run game and the Browns had their eyes on him throughout the entire draft process and were willing to give him $200,000 in guaranteed money to get him to sign. If he continues to impress them, he might be on the 53-man roster when the Browns host Dallas in Week 1.
Myles Harden, Cornerback
The cornerback position is crowded in Cleveland but Myles Harden still might be able to carve out a role with the Browns. Selected at No. 227 overall, the seventh-round pick from South Dakota has earned a lot of praise since being drafted.
He didn't play against elite competition but is a promising prospect. He's a soft-spoken player according to his former college coach but plays without fear. At 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds, he has the makings of a slot corner but played primarily on the boundary.
His ticket to making the roster will be special teams. If he proves he can be a weapon for Bubba Ventrone, that might be enough for him to make the roster. If not, the Browns would love to keep him around on the practice squad.
The problem there is Harden might be too talented to be exposed to waivers.