With Cleveland Browns training camp right around the corner, some players will be competing for a chance to be on the 53-man roster for the Week 1 home opener against the Dallas Cowboys in September. A look at the 90-man roster shows a lot of depth and a lot of competition.
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Which players will be fighting to avoid being cut?
Two specific players have the most to prove during training camp in order to avoid hitting the chopping block:
DT Siaki Ika
It seems obvious, but Ika has a lot to prove during this training camp. Cleveland drafted the big defensive tackle in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL Draft last season. Due to the deep defensive line room that the Browns have, Ika spent most of his time as a healthy scratch for most of the season.
Some will say Ika took a redshirt last season (which is fair) but his RAS scores for the combine weren’t particularly great, mainly on the athletic side:
Cleveland went to work on the defensive line this offseason, retaining both Maurice Hurst and Shelby Harris, signing Quinton Jefferson and drafting Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall in the 2nd round in this year’s draft. Where does that leave Ika?
Could the Browns keep 6 DT’s on their roster? Maybe. Will Ika be one of those tackles? Don’t know. Ika appears to look slimmer and a bit more athletic than last season, which is a good sign:
Considering the type of defensive tackles Schwartz has an interest in (which are lean, and have a quick first step) Ika didn’t fit that build coming out. Could he prove that he’s changed with a strong camp? Potentially.
WR David Bell
If there is one player that has been battling the annual “potential cut candidate”, look no further than Bell. When Bell is given the opportunity, the flashes are there but he finds himself in a very crowded room.
The team acquired Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Broncos and drafted Jamari Thrash in this year’s draft. Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore are also on the roster as additions last offseason.
What is it that all 4 of these receivers have in common? The ability to play in the slot. Where does David Bell play primarily? In the slot.
Bell has the ability to find spots in zones, and has good hands but what is his upside? Could he be a main contributor for Cleveland? Possibly. Could he get playing time over Tillman or Thrash? Who knows, if we have to be honest.
If Bell has a strong camp and shows just enough in the preseason, the Browns might be forced to make a tough decision. Bell has the talent, but will he prove he’s worthy of a roster spot?
