Browns Roster Moves 2020

Barry

Am perplexed about a couple of Browns' moves recently. First, with the most cap space in the league and in losing several players this year from the OL, which received, deservedly, a lot of attention this off-season, why are they signing undrafted players instead of going after some players with NFL experience to back-up? With the anticipation that this year you will be using back-up players more due to Covid-19, doesn't it make sense to protect Baker with not only starters with good experience but back-ups?

To make room for the latest OL guy (Fair) they waived Jameson Houston (Cb), whom they signed as an undrafted player this spring and even gave him a $60,000 bonus. That money isn't going to break the bank but it's rather strange that they thought enough of him in the spring to give him 60K and then after a week or so of having him in Berea they cut him. what's going on with their talent evaluation that a new guy is thought of highly enough to put out a few dollars cash for him and then in just several days of seeing him, not even in a full practice, they cut him?

No indictments here. Just a couple of data points that popped into my head, and was wondering what others thought.

The Gipper

@barry said:

Am perplexed about a couple of Browns' moves recently. First, with the most cap space in the league and in losing several players this year from the OL, which received, deservedly, a lot of attention this off-season, why are they signing undrafted players instead of going after some players with NFL experience to back-up? With the anticipation that this year you will be using back-up players more due to Covid-19, doesn't it make sense to protect Baker with not only starters with good experience but back-ups?

To make room for the latest OL guy (Fair) they waived Jameson Houston (Cb), whom they signed as an undrafted player this spring and even gave him a $60,000 bonus. That money isn't going to break the bank but it's rather strange that they thought enough of him in the spring to give him 60K and then after a week or so of having him in Berea they cut him. what's going on with their talent evaluation that a new guy is thought of highly enough to put out a few dollars cash for him and then in just several days of seeing him, not even in a full practice, they cut him?

No indictments here. Just a couple of data points that popped into my head, and was wondering what others thought.

Maybe in their evaluation process they learned that the CB wasn't going to make the grade. You know, that does happen. They even often have to cut players they actually have drafted. That probably takes longer, but it does happen.

gumby73

Browns add C Casey Dunn from Saints PS last season..Dunn also played in Washington with Bill Callahan as his OL coach..Newly added Guard Jovahn Fair was released...

ballpeen

@gumby73 said:

Browns add C Casey Dunn from Saints PS last season..Dunn also played in Washington with Bill Callahan as his OL coach..Newly added Guard Jovahn Fair was released...

I looked him up. Was all-american in the OVC at Jacksonville State in Alabama. It's a solid program. Looks like he graduated early and then went to Auburn for Grad school and started 9-10 games for Auburn. If you can start for a school like Auburn, you have to be pretty darn good. Just like OSU, they don't have a big problem recruiting good players, and the SEC is as good as it gets in the college ranks. You are playing against many of the best players in the country week after week, team after team.

gumby73

one open spot left of 80.. Filled by DT Ricky Walker..This fine* Virginia Tech Hokie went undrafted to Dallas, to it's final cut-downs in 2019..Walker than played in the XFL as a TB Viper.. ?(ya see what we get for talking snakes?)

Our defensive Super Bowl hopes maybe fading fast

gumby73

C Casey Dunn moved to IR with foot.. *LB Malcolm Smith* added...Former SB MVP at the Hawks... Bless'em ya Berry ?

gumby73

Browns place S Grant Delpit on IR...odd twist..Browns claim Dolphins 5th round 2019 rookie *DE Curtis Weaver*-Boise State..Weaver was headed to Dolphins IR with a foot injury.. Berry Claimed.. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/08/25/browns-claim-curtis-weaver-off-waivers/

from reading dolphins site.. foot may take 10-12 weeks to heal? Weaver looks to be in the running as a Vernon replacement...?

The Gipper

When does the roster have to be set for the beginning of the season?

gumby73

@the-gipper said:

When does the roster have to be set for the beginning of the season?

Next Saturday 4pm? deadline

The Gipper

Offensive Players Cut

QB Garrett Gilbert - There is no need for three quarterbacks on the main roster, with the new rule that four players can be protected on the practice squad. Expect Gilbert to land there.
QB Kevin Davidson
RB Dontrell Hilliard - It appears that D’Ernest Johnson won the third running back job on the main roster. Reports say
Nate Ulrich@ByNateUlrich
Tight end Stephen Carlson told he's making #Browns' initial 53-man roster, and running back Dontrell Hilliard cut but team wants on practice squad if he clears waivers, sources confirmed
Sep 5, 2020 17 0View on X
the Browns would like to keep Hilliard on the practice squad.
RB Benny LeMay
FB Johnny Stanton
WR Damion Ratley - The former 6th round pick saw some action last year, but an injury hampered him early in camp with a new coaching staff. Veteran Rashard Higgins won the No. 3 receiving job over him.
WR Taywan Taylor
WR Ja’Marcus Bradley
OL Willie Wright
OT Brady Aiello - Because Aiello was just signed on Friday, one would think that he has a decent chance to make the practice squad now.
OT Alex Taylor (injured)
OG Michael Dunn
C Jon Toth

The Gipper

Defensive Players Cut

DE Chad Thomas - A former 3rd round pick, Thomas is the biggest name cut of the day for the Browns. He was seeing reps early in camp when Myles Garrett was resting, but then Porter Gustin moved up the depth chart in front of Thomas.
DT Daniel Ekuale
DE Robert McCray
LB Willie Harvey
LB Solomon Ajayi
LB Montrel Meander
CB Donovan Olumba - One of the biggest names of this year’s camp was Olumba, who took advantage of numerous injuries in the secondary to see first-team reps.
CB Robert Jackson
CB A.J. Green - Despite being paid a high signing bonus as an undrafted free agent, Green will hit the waiver wire. That doesn’t mean the signing bonus was useless — it still allowed the team to have him in camp, and if no one claims him, they’ll bring him back to the practice squad, perhaps as one of their four protected players.
S Jovante Moffate
S Elijah Benton

The Gipper

Other Notes

Among the bubble players who made the roster: RB D’Ernest Johnson, WR Rashard Higgins, TE Stephen Carlson, TE Pharaoh Brown, and OL Evan Brown.
This might be my best year yet predicting the initial 53-man roster. I correctly predicted 51/53 players (96.2%). The players I missed on were OL Michael Dunn and CB Donovan Olumba. Instead, OL Evan Brown and TE Pharaoh Brown made the roster. Funny — it was the “Browns” that messed up my perfect score!
all info courtesy of Chris Pokorney of Dawgs by Nature.... He is the "I" referred to above.

The Gipper

Final 53-Man Roster (as of 9/5/20)

Pos

Final Roster

Practice Squad (Cut)

QB
(2)

Baker Mayfield
Case Keenum

Garrett Gilbert
Kevin Davidson

RB
(3)

Nick Chubb
Kareem Hunt
D'Ernest Johnson

Dontrell Hilliard
Benny LeMay

FB
(1)

Andy Janovich

Johnny Stanton

WR
(6)

Odell Beckham Jr.
Jarvis Landry
Rashard Higgins
Donovan Peoples-Jones
JoJo Natson
KhaDarel Hodge

Damion Ratley
Taywan Taylor
Ja'Marcus Bradley

TE
(5)

Austin Hooper
David Njoku
Harrison Bryant
Stephen Carlson
Pharaoh Brown

OL
(9)

Jedrick Wills Jr.
Joel Bitonio
JC Tretter
Wyatt Teller
Jack Conklin
Chris Hubbard
Nick Harris
Kendall Lamm
Evan Brown

Willie Wright
Alex Taylor
Brady Aiello
Michael Dunn
Jon Toth

DL
(8)

Myles Garrett
Larry

Myles Garrett
Larry Ogunjobi
Sheldon Richardson
Olivier Vernon
Adrian Clayborn
Jordan Elliott
Porter Gustin
Eli Ankou

Chad Thomas
Daniel Ekuale
Robert McCray

Ogunjobi
Sheldon Richardson
Olivier Vernon
Adrian Clayborn
Jordan Elliott
Porter Gustin
Eli Ankou

Chad Thomas
Daniel Ekuale
Robert McCray

LB
(6)

Mack Wilson
B.J. Goodson
Sione Takitaki
Jacob Phillips
Malcolm Smith
Tae Davis

Willie Harvey
Solomon Ajayi
Montrel Meander

S
(4)

Karl Joseph
Sheldrick Redwine
Andrew Sendejo
Ronnie Harrison

Jovante Moffatt
Elijah Benton

CB
(6)

Denzel Ward
Greedy Williams
Kevin Johnson
Terrance Mitchell
M.J. Stewart Jr.
Tavierre Thomas

Donovan Olumba
A.J. Green
Robert Jackson

ST
(3)

Austin Seibert
Jamie Gillan
Charley Hughlett

Myles Garrett
Larry Ogunjobi
Sheldon Richardson
Olivier Vernon
Adrian Clayborn
Jordan Elliott
Porter Gustin
Eli Ankou Chad Thomas
Daniel Ekuale CUT

cCray

(3) Austin Seibert
Jamie Gillan
Charley Hughlett

The following players do not count toward the 53-man roster:

Injured Reserve: DE George Obinna, DE Curtis Weaver, DE Trevon Young, S Grant Delpit
Reserve/Opt-Out: OT Drake Dorbeck, OG Drew Forbes, OG Colby Gossett, OG Malcolm Pridgeon, DT Andrew Billings

Unsympathetic

Ankou and Pharoah Brown waived to make room for the 2 new DL.

Orion

Signed TE Kyle Markway to the practice squad.

gumby73

https://sports.yahoo.com/browns-sign-jalen-jelks-pk-232053192.html two more adds to PS.. full at 16

The Gipper

@gumby73 said:

https://sports.yahoo.com/browns-sign-jalen-jelks-pk-232053192.html two more adds to PS.. full at 16

To everything churn churn churn, there is a season churn churn churn
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

Orion

Signed K Matthew McCrane and DE Jalen Jelks to the practice squad. Released DT Tanzel Smart from the practice squad.

...to expand on Gumby's post.

We now have a kicker to replace Parkey when he screws up royally.

gumby73

To expand more on Gumby's post.. Cut McCrane too anywho..

Scott Petrak ct

@ScottPetrak

#Browns put WR/KR JoJo Natson on IR with torn ACL, release LB Montrel Meander. Have two open spots for now.

3:53 PM · Sep 28, 2020

Tour2ma

Brought up Safety from the PS... Jovante Moffatt... rookie out of Middle TN St.

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-s-jovante-moffatt-to-active-roster