3 Browns’ players that could end up on Cleveland’s 53-man roster bubble, including a player the rest of the NFL might have made a mistake with
The Browns won’t be back on the field until training camp at the end of July. When they are, it’ll be worth paying attention to these three players, and their chances of making the 53-man roster.
We’ve hit the final stretch run of the offseason that often feels like the longest between mandatory minicamp and training camp beginning. For the Cleveland Browns, it’ll be all about the quarterback competition when things ramp back up.
Cleveland got a lot younger this offseason and its 53-man roster isn’t going to look anything like it did a year ago.
The Browns have a lot of youth looking to be NFL players, and today I’m highlighting three players specifically I’ll be watching when it comes to the 53-man roster bubble.
RB Raheim Sanders
Cleveland used Sanders in just four games last season as a reserve running back behind Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. We saw that Sanders is a very capable tough-yardage running back and I can see a world where he gets more usage with Todd Monken calling plays.
The 6-foot, 230-pound running back is the leader in the clubhouse to be the No. 3 running back again. There is competition with Ahmani Marshall and TJ Harden. Sanders should get plenty of run during the preseason to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
CB Michael Coats Jr.
Coats is a name that’s created some buzz this offseason during OTAs after being an undrafted free agent pickup out of West Virginia. Coats has made numerous standout plays in practice and showed why he was a key undrafted free agent addition.
Cleveland needs inside cornerback depth, and Coats plays with the competitive edge that any defensive coordinator would like. I think there’s a real shot Coats makes this team as a 5-foot-9, 184-pound former Nevada standout who later transferred to West Virginia. The first of two UDFAs I’ll highlight today.
EDGE Tyreak Sapp
The Browns trading away Myles Garrett was a hit to the pass rush group even if they did get back a young, ascending EDGE with Jared Verse. Before the trade the Browns looked like a team that could use some pass rush help, they tried to replace Cameron Thomas with AJ Epenesa but a failed physical forced the deal to fall through.
Cleveland has Verse, Alex Wright, and Isaiah McGuire as the top three pass rushers. Both undrafted free agent additions Logan Fano and Tyreak Sapp are going to have a chance to make Cleveland’s roster. Sapp was a player who very well could have heard his name called on Day 3 of the draft back in April.
Sapp is a power rusher at 6-foot-2, 270 pounds, but he had an inconsistent college career with production. He’ll have a chance to stick around with the Browns