Cleveland Browns have no choice but to keep a local star around that’s clearly forcing his way on the 53-man roster
Cleveland Browns’ preseason game against the New England Patriots brought another example of why Luke Floriea has to make the 53-man roster.
The Cleveland Browns are wrapping up their preseason slate against the New England Patriots, and the back end of the roster is coming into focus.
The 90-man roster has to be cut down to 53 by Sunday evening, and the Browns already started that work by parting ways with former third-round pick Cedric Tillman early Thursday. Cleveland upgraded its wide receiver room in a big way this offseason by adding first-round pick KC Concepcion and second-round pick Denzel Boston, a direction that was always going to push fringe players off the roster.
A local product and former undrafted free agent from Kent State has proven he belongs, though. The Browns should have him on their initial 53-man roster next week.
Mentor native pushing for Browns’ roster spot and it couldn’t be more clear
For the second straight week, Luke Floriea is making a noticeable impact for the Browns. Floriea scored two touchdowns in the first quarter alone against the Patriots on just two catches. On both scores, he absorbed contact getting into the end zone, showing he plays with grit and does whatever it takes to find pay dirt.
Last week against the Buffalo Bills, Floriea caught a touchdown pass as well. He recorded 35 receiving yards and one catch in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears too. The production has been consistent across all three games, and it’s hard to ignore a player who keeps finding the end zone when given an opportunity.
Floriea spent the 2025 season on the Browns’ practice squad. After a strong offseason dating back to OTAs and a standout training camp, he has clearly pushed his way ahead of other wideouts on the backend. He’s built a notable connection with quarterback Shedeur Sanders the last month, and at this point, there isn’t another wide receiver worth keeping over him in that sixth spot.
Browns’ projected wide receiver room heading into the season
The Browns will keep Concepcion, Boston, Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, and likely Tylan Wallace as their top five receivers. With the productivity Floriea has shown in both training camp and the preseason, he has earned that sixth wide receiver spot. There’s no reason Cleveland shouldn’t keep the Mentor, Ohio, native on its initial 53-man roster.
Time will tell if Floriea’s spot is locked in, but the undrafted free agent out of Kent State has done everything asked of him this summer. The Browns have a decision to make by Sunday evening, and Floriea has made his case loud and clear.
