Cleveland Browns are in an interesting spot heading into the final week of the preseason.

There are multiple players who have proven they belong in the NFL this preseason with the Browns — they are ones you probably didn’t know much about before.

Tough decisions will have to be made about these players in the coming weeks on whether or not they’ll make the 53-man roster.

Interestingly enough, each of these players went undrafted. As we all know, making an NFL team is that much harder when you’re undrafted. General managers typically don’t cut their draft picks as often, so they’ll always get a nod over you. But this preseason and training camp, these players have proven themselves.

It is now up to the Browns to decide if they can keep them or not. One preseason game remains for any last impressions these players want to make, as well as a few practices.

WR Austin Watkins Jr.

Watkins has been the breakout player of the entire preseason perhaps in the NFL. He leads the NFL in receiving with 245 yards in three games player. Yes, the Browns play one more preseason game than everyone besides the New York Jets this season.

Against the Eagles in Cleveland’s third preseason game, Watkins had 139 yards to go along with a touchdown in his best performance yet.

The Browns have some things to figure out in the wide receiver room. It’ll be a tough decision on what they decide to do with Jakeem Grant Sr, as well as what will happen with Marquise Goodwin (blood clots). To this point, Watkins has earned a spot over Anthony Schwartz, Mike Harley Jr., and Jaelon Darden. That much has been proven.

At 6-foot-3, Watkins is a big target for the quarterback and he’s shown that by being a chain mover this preseason. This is one the Browns need to find a way to keep. There is nothing more that Watkins could do to help himself outside of a good final showing against the Chiefs.

S Ronnie Hickman Jr.

When the Browns signed Hickman as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, he was immediately looked at as a player that could potentially make the team. To do so, he has to beat out D’Anthony Bell, an UDFA that made the team last season.

The production has been there for Hickman. He’s broke onto the scene with three interceptions this preseason, including two against the Washington Commanders alone.

That is the interesting thing with Hickman, he’s been solid in coverage. Coming out of Columbus, Hickman strived as a box safety and struggled when he had to turn his back to the play and work in coverage. Showing that he can be more than a safety up by the line of scrimmage has only boosted his stock.

Bell hasn’t had a bad camp by any means. The thought is he more likely gets to the practice squad over a player like Hickman, who teams will have recency bias with due to his play. At this point, I would keep Hickman.

LB Mohamoud Diabate

If you like an Atheltic linebacker, which you should because the NFL is trending toward them more and more, then this will be your guy. Diabate has flashed all over the field in the preseason and has looked like a playmaker.

Against the Eagles this past week, Diabate led the team with seven tackles. The rookie out of Utah forced a fumble and had a tackle for a loss resulting in a safety too. It was as big of a game as he could want.

The intriguing development with Diabate is that he’s still learning the position. He’s still a bit raw with diagnosing things, but when he gets it right he can be dangerous.

The general consensus is that the Browns will keep five linebackers. Standing in Diabate’s way is likely a special teams player in Matthew Adams. Adams missed a couple of weeks with a calf injury, so he does have that working against him.

Cleveland may roll with the young, intriguing player in Diabate. Or, they may want the special teams ability that Adams has proven already in his NFL career. It is a tough call right now.

Going away, the Browns have some big decisions to make at the end of their roster. It isn’t every year that multiple undrafted free agents show they belong. This year, at least three have done that in Cleveland. 

Browns receive good news on two starters ahead of Chiefs preseason game

Exactly the news you want to end the weekend.

Featured image via Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports.