A former draft pick and 2 other Browns players that aren’t safe on Cleveland’s initial 53-man roster
Cleveland Browns have set their initial 53 man roster, but there are several players whose jobs still might not be safe.
The Cleveland Browns made it through one of the most important stretches of the year, cutting the roster from 90 players to 53 for the 2026 NFL season.
Cleveland’s initial 53-man roster is set, but the emphasis belongs on the word “initial.” Changes are likely coming for the Browns following waiver claims and the typical shuffling that every team does leading up to Week 1.
Even with the roster officially trimmed, a few players stick out as possible departures in the coming days. Here’s who could be on the move for Cleveland.
WR Malachi Corley could be squeezed out of the wide receiver room
Corley showed some value with the Browns as both a returner and a gadget-type player who is tough with the ball in his hands. He had 13 catches for 127 yards in 13 games for Cleveland last season, and his ability to contribute on special teams helps his case. Still, he’s the sixth wide receiver on the roster. The Browns have Tylan Wallace as another special teams contributor, and rookie KC Concepcion could handle return duties as well. If Cleveland opts to bring in an extra tight end or cornerback, the wide receiver room could shrink from six to five. Corley would be the odd man out in that scenario.
C Luke Wypler’s roster spot may not last through the next couple of weeks
The Browns kept two centers on their initial 53-man roster, and there’s reason to wonder if that will still be the case when they roll into Week 1. Wypler had been battling rookie Parker Brailsford for the backup center job, and it’s hard to see Cleveland sticking with Wypler in the final year of his rookie contract over Brailsford, a player they just selected on early Day 3 of the draft. The Browns hope Brailsford could potentially be a starting center down the road. Cleveland would love to get Wypler to its practice squad if possible, and the team may be waiting for the dust to settle around the NFL before parting ways with him. That patience could give the Browns a more likely path to keeping Wypler on the practice squad rather than losing him on waivers.
DE Julian Okwara is the fourth pass rusher, but that may not stick
Okwara is the fourth and final pass rusher on the Browns’ roster right now, and that designation feels tenuous. He has never been an overly productive player despite appearing in 51 games over the last five years, totaling 10 sacks as a depth pass rusher. Okwara has never appeared in a game with the Browns after spending time on their practice squad last season. He didn’t play in the NFL at all in 2025 in terms of regular-season games. Cleveland kept him as the fourth pass rusher to this point with defensive end Alex Wright out with an injury for the season. The Browns could claim a pass rusher from elsewhere on waivers, and that move alone would bump Okwara off the roster.
Time will tell how much this roster changes before Week 1, but the current 53-man group is far from final. The coming days will reveal whether Cleveland can upgrade at the margins and get a few of these fringe players back on the practice squad.
Cleveland Browns News