As is always the case in Cleveland, the Browns will be looking closely at the waiver wire and they are likely to make a few claims on players released by the rest of the league, so I'd be surprised if this version of the roster is the exact one that the Browns will take to Baltimore next Sunday.
There are a few players of note that were released and a surprise or two hit the wire as well.
Cleveland will hope to see a few of these players clear and sign them to the newly enlarged and detailed ( a larger roster and a few veterans are now allowed to be on the practice squad) practice squad.
Two John Dorsey draftees were released with 2018 third round defensive end Chad Thomas and sixth round wide receiver Damion Ratley heading out the door.
Thomas was a questionable selection at the time, seeming to have been drafted a round too early and selected over Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard, who was drafted by the Bengals.
Thomas barely played as a rookie, started eight games in 2019 and finished with four sacks in seventeen games, none in the final month after the suspension of Myles Garrett, and has been thought to have more concerned with his off-field interests in the music industry.
Hubbard has totaled 14 and a half sacks in two seasons in Cincinnati and is a starter for the Bengals.
The development of Porter Gustin, who joined the Browns late last season, made Thomas expendable after Gustin's very strong training camp, and I would think that Thomas could be claimed by another team.
Ratley caught twenty-five passes over two seasons for over three hundred yards and a touchdown.
Ratley possessed size and speed (6'2) , but had problems staying healthy and on a team that kept five tight ends, Ratley was in a losing battle among the wide receivers due to various reasons against KhaDarel Hodge's special teams ability, JoJo Natson slotted in as the return man, and Donovan Peoples-Jones physical upside and Natson's backup in the return game, leaving Ratley as the odd man out.
Quarterback Garrett Gilbert was released, but is expected to clear waivers and will be assigned to the practice squad, assuming he clears the wire.
Gilbert threw three incomplete passes in five mop-up appearances for the Browns last season.
Dontrell Hilliard lost out in the battle for the final running back spot to D'Ernest Johnson.
Johnson is expected to play a key role on special teams and with new returners in store for this season, Hilliard wasn't going to play special teams after returning kicks in his two seasons with the Browns.
Hilliard caught 21 passes in his two seasons in Cleveland and scored two rushing touchdowns in 2019.
Taywon Taylor was obtained on cutdown day 2019 from Tennessee for a conditional draft choice, but made no impact in playing only three games for the Browns and not catching the one ball thrown to him all season.
The 2017 third rounder was never a factor in camp and is unlikely to return to the practice squad.
I was surprised to see Donovan Olumba released, mainly because of the injuries at cornerback and because Olumba had spent much of recent practice time as part of the first team after those injuries.
What this indicates to me is that the Browns will be very active in claiming one or two cornerbacks off the wire with injuries hampering Greedy Williams and Kevin Johnson in camp.
Tavierre Thomas special teams play must have been the difference in keeping Thomas over Olumba, but Thomas might wind up being the secondary member that loses a spot, should the Browns claim a defensive back.
Olumba will almost certainly be added to the practice squad, should he clear waivers which is far from a guarantee.
The waiver period will expire at noon Sunday with announcement of any new arrivals coming on Sunday afternoon.
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