Cleveland, OH (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns reduced the roster to 53 Saturday afternoon.
Defensive end Nate Orchard, defensive tackle Caleb Brantley, running back Matthew Dayes, fullback Danny Vitale, tight end and Hard Knocks star Devon Cajuste and offensive lineman Spencer Drango headline the list of players that did not make the cut.
Here are the official oves made by the team Saturday:
- Acquired DL Devaroe Lawrence from the Saints in exchange for a 2019 seventh-round pick.
- Waived 18 players: LB B.J. Bello, DL Caleb Brantley, TE Devon Cajuste, RB Matthew Dayes, OL Christian DiLauro, OL Spencer Drango, DL Daniel Ekuale, DL Zaycoven Henderson, RB Dontrell Hilliard, WR Blake Jackson, DB Mike Jordan, DB Montrel Meander, DL Nate Orchard, DB Tigie Sankoh, WR Da’Mari Scott, LB Brady Sheldon, DB Simeon Thomas, P Justin Vogel.
- Waived one player with an injury designation: FB Danny Vitale
By virtue of finishing with the worst record in the league, the Browns hold top priority on the waiver wire for the first 3 weeks of the season, meaning general manager John Dorsey is hardly done reshaping the roster.
Here's how the initial 53 shakes out:
Receivers (6) – Jarvis Landry, Josh Gordon, Rashard Higgins, Antonio Callaway, Damion Ratley, Derek Willies.
Analysis: Willies may not be long for the roster but for now he's the sixth receiver.
Tight ends (4) – David Njoku, Darren Fells, Seth DeValve and Orson Charles
Analysis: With DeValve missing the entire preseason and almost all of training camp, Charles makes the team over Cajuste as the fourth TE.
Offensive line (8) – Joel Bitonio, Austin Corbett, JC Tretter, Kevin Zeitler, Chris Hubbard, Earl Watford, Desmond Harrison, Greg Robinson
Analysis: While Hue Jackson might not be settled on his starting 5 – namely at left guard and left tackle, Dorsey may be looking for more help on the waiver wire up front.
Quarterbacks (3) – Tyrod Taylor, Baker Mayfield, Drew Stanton.
Analysis: Nothing to see here.
Running backs (3) – Carlos Hyde, Nick Chubb, Duke Johnson
Analysis: The only question was, would Dorsey make room for Dayes because of special teams? He didn’t.
Fullback (0) –
Analysis: Vitale’s calf injury could have Dorsey looking for a blocker in the backfield, or they could elect to use Fells in 2-tight end sets.
Defense line (8) – Myles Garrett, Larry Ogunjobi, Trevon Coley, Emmanuel Ogbah, Chris Smith, Carl Nassib, Jamie Meder, Chad Thomas
Analysis: Nassib makes the cut, Orchard does not but the Browns have some quality depth and versatility up front.
Linebacker (6) – Christian Kirksey, Joe Schobert, Jamie Collins, Sr., Genard Avery, James Burgess Jr., Jermaine Grace
Analysis: No mysteries or surprises here other than Grace being kept around but there’s a chance he’s still on the bubble if a better option presents itself on the waiver wire.
Cornerbacks (6) – Denzel Ward, Terrance Mitchell, E.J. Gaines, T.J. Carrie, Mike Jordan, Jeremiah McKinnon
Analysis: McKinnon makes it over sixth-round pick Simeon Thomas, otherwise no news here.
Safeties (4) – Damarious Randall, Jabrill Peppers, Derrick Kindred, Briean Boddy-Calhoun.
Analysis: Another position group that falls as expected.
Specialists (3) – Long snapper Charley Hughlett, Kicker Zane Gonzalez, Punter Britton Colquitt.
Analysis: Familiarity and experience wins out as Colquitt and Gonzalez both keep their jobs – at least we think for now.
