The Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles played to a tie in their preseason contest this week, with several players nothing roster spots in the process.
Andrew Berry and the Cleveland Browns have a tough task ahead of them, as they must cement a 53-man roster ahead of a season full of expectations. Browns fans are a patient bunch, but they have been through a lot. Deshaun Watson's first full season as starter should help matters, but it far from guarantees a playoff spot in a division which features Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.
While Watson's success will help the Browns, it also only takes them so far. Cleveland needs better play from its defense, and the skill positions. So far this preseason, the offseason has looked far from perfect.
Here's what we learned from Cleveland's preseason draw against the Eagles.
NFL Rumors: Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson earned a roster spot
No, Thompson-Robinson should not be in the conversation for starting QB, that much is a given. In fact, he's unlikely to be the backup at this juncture, that honor goes to Kellen Mond. However, Thompson-Robinson has proven there's a place for him in the NFL this preseason.
Thompson-Robinson has plenty of room to grow as a passer. He showcased that this week, as he missed some open receivers against a vaunted Eagles secondary. However, it's Thompson-Robinson's dual-threat ability, along with his potential as a passer that should get Cleveland's potential. If he were to hit the open market, some QB-hungry team would sign him to their practice squad. Frankly, that's exactly where he should play for the Browns this coming season.
Signing Thompson-Robinson to a future's contract and placing him on the practice squad, where he has a chance to develop into the player many within the organization think he can be, would be a wise decision by Berry and Co.
NFL Rumors: Austin Watkins has earned a place on Browns roster
Cleveland is lacking in proven skill-position talent beyond the likes of Nick Chubb and Amari Cooper. However, they may have found a diamond in the rough with Austin Watkins. In the Browns preseason tilt against the Eagles, Watkins looked like a legitimate downfield threat at wide receiver, reeling in seven catches for 139 yards and a touchdown. Those are impressive numbers in any game, even an exhibition where snaps are limited for skill-position players.
Watkins has made an impression on his teammates. Currently listed as a depth wideout on the Browns depth chart, he should see more opportunities as the preseason moves along. Watkins is a former USFL standout, and he's making it tough for the Browns to cut him and sign to the practice squad, as odds are another team would sign him after his impressive outing this week.
Browns Wire's Corey Kinnan outlined this dilemma in a recent article:
"With Watkins making it difficult to attempt to cut him and hope he clears waivers to stash on the practice squad, how does this shake up the rest of the wide receiver room? The Browns have historically rostered four running backs, and in a year where they are struggling to find three to fit on the field, that seems unlikely to happen again. This could leave the door open for seven wide receivers to be rostered in 2023."
History tells us Cleveland will want four running backs on the roster, but it should not come at Watkins expense. He's proven he can make a play when called upon.
NFL Rumors: Local product Tanner McCalister works his way onto roster
Tanner McCalister was on the field a lot this week, and most of the time he was making plays around the ball. It's exactly what the Browns should ask of an undrafted rookie trying to work his way onto the roster.
Cleveland got a front-row seat to McCalister at Ohio State, and the former Buckeye balled out to the tune of five tackles and a sack out of the secondary. By no means will McCalister be a starting safety on this team, but he does offer the kind of depth most teams dream of in their secondary.
Cleveland.com's Stephen Means discussed McCalister's resume when the Browns signed him:
"McCalister spent one season in Columbus as a transfer from Oklahoma State, jumping at the chance to spend one more season with Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who previously coached at Oklahoma State. He immediately claimed the nickel safety role in Knowles' safety-driven defense and played practically every meaningful snap the position was on the field."
McCalister is definitely a player to keep an eye on in the seasons to come. A practice squad spot could be coming his way if he continues to fly under the radar.
