Browns Players Who Need Impressive Camp to Avoid Being Cut

The Cleveland Browns enter training camp with a roster surplus at most of the offensive skill positions.

That's a good thing for fans on the outside because it creates drama at almost every position.

But that also creates a stressful situation for the players attempting to be on the 53-man roster in Week 1.

Cleveland currently has four quarterbacks, four running backs and six or seven wide receivers who are capable of making an NFL roster.

Of course, a few of those players will be trimmed off the roster in August, and at least right now, it is clear which players have more work to do than others in preseason.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson

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HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 24: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #17 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Dorian Thompson-Robinson's roster status was in doubt the second the Browns signed Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley in free agency.

The UCLA product is the odd man out in the quarterback conversation right now because both Winston and Huntley are more capable backups if Deshaun Watson is injured.

Thompson-Robinson needs a handful of things to go his way in training camp to be considered for the 53-man roster.

The primary factor is a high level of performance from both players in front of him. That may sound counter productive for keeping a roster spot, but if Winston and Huntley shine in preseason, one of them could be shipped away in a trade.

Quarterbacks are in high demand, and right now, the Browns have a pair of No. 2 quarterbacks. Winston or Huntley could be the backup somewhere else in a heartbeat.

The Browns could also be content with keeping Winston and Huntley because of Watson's injury history. They may rather have both players stick around so the quality at the position does not drop off.

No matter the situation Thompson-Robinson has work to do to make the roster since he will be the No. 3 quarterback at best.

Nyheim Hines

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - JANUARY 08: Nyheim Hines #20 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball on a kickoff against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Nyheim Hines' path to a roster spot may be dependent on how Nick Chubb looks in preseason.

Chubb is working his way back from a season-ending leg injury and the Browns obviously do not want to rush him back.

However, the Browns also can't justify keeping four running backs on the active roster at the expense of depth elsewhere.

Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman are currently ahead of Hines on the depth chart. They would see a bulk of the carries if Chubb is not close to 100 percent early in the regular season.

Hines' best path to playing time could be in the return game. He will be in competition with a handful of wide receivers for that spot.

If Hines proves his worth as a returner, then the Browns can justify keeping four running backs because they can treat Hines as an all-purpose player.

James Proche

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HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 13: Cleveland Browns wide receiver James Proche II (11) returns the punt in the first quarter during the AFC Wild Card game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on January 13, 2024 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Cleveland possesses one of the deepest wide receiver rooms it has had in a while.

Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy are clearly at the top, Elijah Moore is the No. 3 for now and Cedric Tillman and David Bell will be fighting for snaps.

That leaves James Proche in a tough spot going into training camp.

Even if the Browns trade the underwhelming Moore, rookie Jamari Thrash would move up a spot on the depth chart behind Tillman and Bell.

Proche does not seem to have a path to one of the active-roster wide receiver spots right now, so it may take a huge preseason, or for him to beat out Hines in the return game, to remain with the Browns.