Under-the-Radar Cleveland Browns Turning Heads at Training Camp

With 90 men on the roster, it's easy to lose track of all the players the Cleveland Browns have been working with during training camp. It's much simpler to pay attention to the top half of the roster and the names that are most familiar.

But training camp is also a time for unheralded players to make names for themselves and earn spots on the Browns' 53-man roster. Here are five under-the-radar Browns who are drawing attention during this summer's camp.

TE E.J. Bibbs

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Browns head coach Mike Pettine has already sung the praises of undrafted rookie tight end E.J. Bibbs. During minicamp, he said, "The Bibbs kid has had a real good spring for us. He's kind of come out of nowhere. We feel that we have some depth in the room and some future depth in that room that we're very pleased with."

Bibbs' name was also the first one out of Pettine's mouth last week, when he was asked about players that observers of the team may be overlooking. Pettine noted that Bibbs is "having a pretty good camp," despite being behind Gary Barnidge, Jim Dray and Rob Housler on the depth chart.

Bibbs, a first-team All-Big-12 tight end in 2014, had 45 receptions leading to eight touchdowns for Iowa State last season. He can serve as both a receiver and blocker and looks, at this point, to be a prime candidate for the Browns practice squad.

He also looked good in the Orange & Brown Scrimmage last week, hauling in a four-yard touchdown pass. With the team's preseason games beginning this week, expect to see more of Bibbs on the field, where he'll likely be one of Pettine's breakout players.

WR Josh Lenz

Uncredited/Associated Press

Receiver Josh Lenz had been in the NFL for two years, spending time with the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts, when he joined Cleveland during June's OTAs. And though he's been with the team a short time, he's already making a positive impression.

It's not just the three passes he caught in last week's intra-squad scrimmage, including an 18-yard touchdown pass thrown by Johnny Manziel. It's also the fact that he's drawing the attention of first-team defenders.

Safety Donte Whitner said of Lenz, "He's been a guy that came in, and you barely ever hear him speak. He's a guy that's always working, and he made a lot of big plays out there [Friday]. The [Colts] ended up letting him go, but he's making a really, really good impression on his teammates and the coaching staff."

The only thing in Lenz's way is the depth chart. Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, Andrew Hawkins, Taylor Gabriel and Vince Mayle seem like locks to make the final roster, and a few others could be pressing for roster spots as well. But if Lenz continues to make plays, the Browns may have no choice but to find him a roster spot—and some playing time—come September.

OL Michael Bowie

Uncredited/Associated Press

The Browns picked up offensive tackle Michael Bowie after he was waived injured by the Seattle Seahawks last summer in the hopes he'd be a future asset to their offensive line. And after a year of rehabilitation—and dropping 40 pounds—he's now the Browns' second-string right tackle.

No one may be more excited about Bowie's ability to contribute this summer than head coach Mike Pettine, who said last week:

"

The one guy that, to me, were all extremely proud of because we know how hard he's worked, is [Bowie]. This is a guy that sat out all last year and that's tough to be in the building and be injured. You just feel like—because nobody knows what to say to you so it's a very quiet world you live in. You feel very much alone that way. Here's a guy that just worked and worked and really transformed his body. If you watch the tape he's so much quicker than he was before, even from the spring. Here's a guy that's pushing to be a part of what we do. That's a credit to him.

"

Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report notes that Bowie "is competing at a high level in camp thus far." As long as that continues, there's little chance that Bowie won't make the Browns' final roster.

DL Dylan Wynn

Uncredited/Associated Press

When defensive lineman Dylan Wynn left Oregon State for the NFL, he was concerned that some teams would want him as a fullback. But once he arrived with the Browns, who signed him as an undrafted rookie right after May's draft, defensive line was to be his designated station.

Though he's on the bottom half of Cleveland's roster, Wynn will have ample opportunities to make an impact during the team's four preseason games. He stood out at last week's scrimmage, notching back-to-back sacks of depth quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and following that up with a pressure on the passer.

Wynn is also willing and able—and experienced at—playing special teams. That skill could be enough to elevate him to the Browns' 53-man roster. But if it doesn't, the practice squad could be a good spot for him this year. Even though Wynn has been impressive, the Browns have a great deal of depth on the defensive line. This could force him to wait a year before making his regular-season NFL debut.

WR Darius Jennings

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The Browns have no shortage of promising young wide receivers. Along with Josh Lenz, Darius Jennings has also been a standout this summer. ClevelandBrowns.com's Andrew Gribble wrote about the pair last week, noting that the two "have shined with the second-team offense and have routinely been on the receiving end of touchdowns in red-zone drills."

Jennings, in particular, has done enough to earn first-team reps and did see receiving targets during last week's scrimmage from starting quarterback Josh McCown. Why? Because in fellow receiver Brian Hartline's words, "Darius is always making plays."

Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier observed Browns training camp earlier this month and came away impressed with Jennings, saying, "[He's] fast as heck and has hands." If Jennings can establish himself as an asset as a kick or punt returner on top of being a receiver, he could find himself on the roster.