Like all 32 teams, the Cleveland Browns had some tough decisions to make last week. They trimmed their roster to 53 players, meaning they had to cut ties with some training camp standouts and guys who should have probably made the team.
With only so many spots up for grabs, head coach Todd Monken had to prioritize one position group over the other. However, with the well-documented concerns about this team's defensive depth — or lack thereof — keeping 34-year-old Michael Burton was certainly a bit of a head-scratcher.
The Browns could have used that roster spot to address their needs on defense. Instead, they're keeping a fullback who missed all of 2025 with a hamstring injury and also missed time in training camp.
Even so, Coach Monken revealed that it was the plan all along.
“Yes. Whether it’s short yardage, whether it’s goal line, whether it’s coming out or four-minute. I think you’re going to want a fullback; you’re going to want the ability to play downhill,” Monken said. “And Mike (Michael Burton) gives us that. All you had to see when he came back a week ago, and the reps he took, you could see a guy who had played fullback and really understands the position. There are guys who play fullback, and there are guys who have played fullback and play it at an elite level, and Mike’s the latter.”
Todd Monken's Michael Burton gamble came at a steep cost for the Browns
The Browns used rookie tight end Carsen Ryan at fullback and H-back at times during training camp. Whether they continue to experiment with that role during the regular season remains to be seen.
Having a true specialist at one position is obviously better than asking a rookie to do a little bit of everything. But even if Monken's offense has always featured a fullback, how can the Browns trust the 34-year-old Burton to stay on the field?
Clearly, Monken has a vision for the veteran, but the defense might be an injury away from a crisis.
The team just cut ties with cornerback Michael Coats Jr., one of their training camp stars, even though they were extremely thin at cornerback. Other promising young players, like Logan Fano and Khordae Sydnor, ended up on the practice squad after finishing the summer strong.
Monken is an offensive-minded head coach, and he'll make most of his decisions thinking on that side of the ball first and foremost. Hopefully, Burton will stay healthy and silence the doubters with his aggressive and physical downhill style.
For now, it looks like the Browns chose to ignore their most glaring problems and could find themselves in serious trouble if their bad injury luck on defense continues.
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