By the end of this weekend every NFL team will have played their first game. Soon after every teams final snap, the next layer of evaluating rosters will happen from general managers and scouting departments across the league. All thirty-two NFL teams will have players that both exceed and fall short of expectations when the tape is turned on. In a worse case scenario, some teams will lose players who were penciled in to either start or have significant roles, lost to injury.
Teams will be scouring the depth charts of the other thirty-one teams to see if they can upgrade talent or mitigate a loss from an injury. To consider this exercise from a Browns perspective, I am marrying how attractive a player would be to another team, as well as how likely Andrew Berry would be willing to part with a player. Based on those factors the three players that I see as the likeliest to be moved are the following:
1. Center, Nick Harris
Harris is between the proverbial "rock and a hard place" on this Browns roster. The former 6th-round draft pick sat behind J.C. Tretter for his first two seasons on the team and was scheduled to be the starter last year. Unfortunately, Harris was lost for the year after tearing an ACL in the team's first preseason game a year ago.
Harris seems to be back pretty close to full-strength and seems to be solidified as the backup to center Ethan Pocic, who outperformed all expectations last season after he replaced Harris in the lineup. Pocic was signed to a three year extension in the offseason that virtually guarantees him a starting spot on the Browns offensive line through at least 2024.
Complicating things further for Harris is the fact that he is in the last year of his rookie deal, coupled with the team drafting center Luke Wypler in the 6th-round of the draft. By all accounts the team is very high on Wypler and his performance in camp and first game action has been solid.
It is highly unlikely that the team could keep all three on the final 53 man roster and Wypler would most certainly be claimed by another team if they were to attempt to slide him onto the practice squad.
Berry may not like it but trading Harris to a team in need for either a future draft pick or a player who can help contribute at another position of need, would be best for all parties.
2. Cornerback, A.J. Green III
The Browns cornerback position could be described as an embarrassment of riches across the league. With Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome and Martin Emerson Jr. firmly planted as the top three on the depth chart. Green has provided the team reliable depth and has played at high level when called upon.
The Browns also drafted rookie Cam Mitchell who is currently fighting for the teams 6th corner spot on the roster. The loss of Thomas Graham to injury probably makes a move less likely but if a team needs a corner who has proven they can play in the league, one of the first calls they make may be to the Browns.
3. Defensive Tackle, Jordan Elliott
With the addition of Shelby Harris at defensive tackle, the Browns certainly appear to be relying less on Elliott this season. The team also signed Maurice Hurst and Trysten Hill during the offseason and new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz reportedly likes all three. (As an aside-has Schwartz ever met a defensive lineman that he doesn't like?)
If Hill who is a former second round pick, could beat out Elliott for the final DT spot on the roster, Andrew Berry would be the one picking up the phone to see if a team would like to acquire Elliott and give him a fresh start. Complicating things a bit here may be the reworked contract the team negotiated with Elliott prior to the season. Elliott ended up with a pay cut overall but the deal also became fully guaranteed.
While I don't think he could get much in return, defensive tackles have become increasingly hard to find and perhaps a team out there would be willing to take a flyer on the former PFF darling. If Berry were unable to find a suitor it would probably make it more likely that they keep him on the roster and try to get Hill on the practice squad.
In the end, it is always hard to try and predict what will happen in the NFL. Harris to me, would be the most likely to happen while the other two would be more long shots that I wouldn't be surprised by. The fact is Berry will take many phone calls, as well as make them, we only find out about the ones where deals are reached.
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