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[Cleveland Browns]

Browns 53-man roster: These 3 longshot players are sleepers to make the initial roster

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Browns roster does not have a lot of space available especially with the 4-man QB competition

With training camp starting soon for the Cleveland Browns, the roster, as it stands, will eventually be trimmed down to 53, as it currently sits at 90. Everyone pretty much has the idea of who the roster locks are, who is on the bubble, and who are the longshots to make the team. Longshots are players who usually face an uphill battle to make the team and will have the entirety of the preseason to prove they are worthy of a roster spot.

These three longshot players are the sleepers to make the 53-man roster:

TE Sal Cannella​

As someone who watches spring football more than the casual fan, the one name that I am familiar with the most is Cannella, who started his football career going back to defunct The Spring League. Cannella has been around multiple leagues. Take a look at these stops:

• TSL Generals (The Spring League)
• Miami Dolphins
• New Orleans Breakers (USFL)
• Green Bay Packers
• Arlington Renegades (1st in the XFL & 2nd stint in the UFL)
• Seattle Seahawks

Cannella recently signed with the Browns after another successful stint in the UFL with the Arlington Renegades. Cannella led the league in touchdown receptions and was a reliable target for Renegades QB Luis Perez.

Too tuff.

Sal Cannella leaves it all on the field for a 1st down.

: ABC pic.twitter.com/UUnmemNZ1X

— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) June 1, 2025​

From first downs to fit checks, Sal is the best in the game.

All-UFL TE @salnells pic.twitter.com/o5IMC2JqPh

— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) June 4, 2025​

Cannella has yet to appear in a regular-season game when he was signed with previous NFL teams, but considering how the Browns cut tight end Tre McKitty to pick him up, there is a chance Cannella will make the 53-man roster.

Cannella has shown he can produce, and he’s shown he can be a reliable target in the redzone in other leagues. He’ll get a fair chance to earn the third tight end roster spot and show he can be someone who can be called upon.

DT Ralph Holley​

I started watching the Canadian Football League more closely, going back to 2022, mainly because there are players who used to play in the NFL and players who are there who could potentially play in the NFL if given the opportunity.

Enter Holley, who was a part of one of the best defensive lines in the CFL last season with Grey Cup Champions Toronto Argonauts. Despite missing a couple of games, Holley was tied for 1st in sack total alongside former teammate Jake Ceresna.

Ralph Holley gets to Tommy Stevens to force a turnover on downs! #CFLGameDay: LIVE on TSN
: Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/WNgu6cwQoz

— CFL (@CFL) August 10, 2024​

Ralph Holley gets in for the Toronto sack!@oktire #LDWeekend #CFLGameDay
: TSN, RDS & CBSSN
: CFL+ pic.twitter.com/F9PlMtMWia

— CFL (@CFL) September 2, 2024​

Holley has shown multiple times he can be an impact player and he was one of the more underrated players on the Argos defensive line.

The Browns interior defensive lineman room is somewhat deep but Holley is a sleeper for making the team.

WR Luke Floriea​

For people who live in Northeast Ohio and watch high school football frequently, rookie Floriea is a familiar name. Floriea was a 3-star prospect coming out of Mentor High School and attended Kent State University (an hour drive from Mentor, Ohio) after he originally committed to Boston College.

Luke Floriea has had a great summer to this point. Practices with a purpose. #Browns pic.twitter.com/8DLDI2Dekt

— Lance Reisland (Coach Riz) (@LanceReisland) June 13, 2025​

This TD pass from #Browns QB Shedeur Sanders to Kent State tryout receiver Luke Floriea almost ended badly for me, but I remained committed: pic.twitter.com/sW9NcxeZYO

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) May 10, 2025​

4th & 7? Not a problem for the Flashes ️@KentStFootball | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/fI2O6EQTVn

— MACtion (@MACSports) August 31, 2024​

(Editor’s Note: Floriea has a head start on being the lesser-known receiver that Browns fans “know” will be good if the team moves on from him.)

Judging from rookie minicamp and minicamp clips, Floriea has shown the capabilities of earning a shot to make the 53-man roster after he signed with the team after rookie minicamp. Floriea could be a reliable slot option (not as the starter but as a backup) on a team that seems not to have many slot guys and could potentially make his mark on special teams. If it’s someone who could make the team, it’s Floriea.

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Who is your sleeper to make the Browns 53-man roster? Share your thoughts below in the comment section

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...layers-bubble-sleepers-to-make-initial-roster

 

[Cleveland Browns]

The Browns receiver that more people should be talking about

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Training camp is fast approaching and the Browns roster has some intriguing players

The Cleveland Browns will begin training camp this year away from the fancy confines of West Virginia, and instead, not have to box everything up and relocate away from Berea.

RELATED: TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE

There will be several battles that every Browns fan will be looking at on a weekly basis.

To start off with, the quarterback situation. In fact, the entire league is watching the Browns for this group to thin out and declare a winner. The reason, obviously, is rookie Shedeur Sanders, who fell from the Top-5 to another five, namely the fifth round.

Because Cleveland has declared they are going back to running the ball, who will be the starting running back? Jerome Ford is the favorite, or, on the veteran side, don’t count out the services of Pierre Strong, plus GM Andrew Berry drafted not one, but two backs in this year’s draft. No clear winner yet.

Defensive tackle and safety were both groups of concern after last year. Will kicker Dustin Hopkins regroup and continue a strong campaign, or will former Groza Award winner Andre Szmyt beat him out?

Then there is the receiver group. In meetings, this room has had to round up some extra chairs because currently, there are 13 pass catchers on the roster. No, not a misprint. Every so many weeks, another one arrives with his duffle bag and backpack, anxious to show that he should be one of the six players the Browns will keep.

Yeah, six receivers. That’s it, most likely.

Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and probably Jamari Thrash are a certainty. That leaves three spots. Diontae Johnson is the most likely for another if he shows up and becomes focused on what the team needs. David Bell and Michael Woods have been hanging on by a thread for some time now, but neither is assured of anything other than a competitive camp.

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images
WR Luke Floriea

The rest of this group? Gage Larvadain, Jaelen Gill, Kaden Davis, Kisean Johnson, Cade McDonald, DeAndre Carter, and Luke Floriea. Does that make a baker’s dozen?

Here is a guy to watch who isn’t getting any press quite yet. But he will: Luke Floriea.

Beginnings​

Floriea is an undrafted rookie. That in itself usually means the road is a lot bumpier when trying to make the final roster of an NFL club. Being taken in the draft basically guarantees a certain amount of money right off, and teams aren’t anxious to cut their draft picks for at least a few seasons. How long did the Browns hold onto third-rounder WR Anthony Schwartz before releasing him? You get the point.

Back to Floriea, which is pronounced as “Flo-REE-uh.” He is an Ohio kid. He grew up in Mentor, Ohio, and attended Mentor High School, where he played basketball and football despite only being 5’-8” tall and weighing 179 pounds. Floriea was an exceptional basketball player, playing 101 contests, and averaged 11.5 points a game, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 4.4 assists. 22 times in his final three seasons, he was named the “Player of the Game.”

In football, he played receiver and ran a 4.48 in the 40 with a vertical leap of 32”. As a senior, he had 52 receptions for 939 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was named Second Team All-Ohio, First Team All-District, and First Team All-County. He was listed as a three-star recruit. Athletics run in the family as his sister Paige was a track star.

His X handle is @Luke_floriea2.

His college offers were from UMass, Boston College, Navy, Yale, Air Force, and Kent State. He signed a letter of intent to play for Boston College, but then backed out and went to Kent State. He played in three games as a freshman and was a COVID player, so he ended up eligible for five seasons.

His career totals are 48 games played, 100 receptions for 1,321 yards, 12 TDs, a 13.2 yards per reception average, and four rushes for 23 yards with a single score. Floriea was also a return man with seven kickoffs for a 17.8 yards per return average, plus 21 punt returns with an average of 7.6 yards per return.

After his junior and senior seasons, Floriea was named First Team All-MAC and received a Hula Bowl invite. As a senior, he caught 44 receptions for 699 yards with seven touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the conference in yards per catch (15.9) average.

On to the Browns​

The 2025 NFL draft came and went. Floriea did not hear his name called. At his Kent State Pro Day, he ran a 4.51 in the 40, which was slower than he hoped to run.

His scouting report stated that he had a good first step and route-running prowess. Floriea is known for his precise route-running skills, which allow him to create separation from defenders. He had a good showing at the Hula Bowl. The knock on him is his size and smallish frame.

But he is an ideal slot receiver. Think Wes Welker. Floriea has a quick burst and superb route running. He’s quicker than he is fast. And while guys are going to be in Browns training camp to gather film for their future employer, Floriea seems to be focused on making a home in Cleveland. He will be in the hunt to make this team.

Luke Floriea is officially a Cleveland Brown! pic.twitter.com/sTv7rfT8r1

— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) May 12, 2025​

Floriea was one of 25 players invited to the Browns’ rookie minicamp in May. After camp broke, Berry signed three receivers on May 12th from this event: McDonald, Kisean Johnson, and Floriea.

During mini-camp, several players stood out, including QB Shedeur Sanders. But none more than Floriea. He caught everything thrown his way.

Little more @KentStFootball propaganda at #Browns rookie camp. Luke Floriea catches a TD from Shedeur Sanders. pic.twitter.com/xNHQ71v80s

— Dan Labbe (@dan_labbe) May 10, 2025​

Now, understand that during this type of situation, there isn’t a pass rush, so of course, every QB throwing looks good. The guys who are covering a player such as Floriea are in the same boat as he is in: the bottom third of the roster. The pads aren’t on, and the main defense isn’t getting too sweaty or trying to impress anyone who is watching.

But that will change once training camp begins. The hitting will begin, and a brutal pass rush will make the game appear faster. No longer will a player like Floriea have a teammate who is struggling to make the roster covering him when Denzel Ward or M.J. Emerson line up against him.

The true test doesn’t begin in NFL games; it begins in Browns training camp against Pro Bowl defenders.

Prime placement to @luke_floriea2⁩, the local guy out of Mentor and ⁦@KentStFootball⁩ pic.twitter.com/Bl5SHXhwLp

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 10, 2025​

But for now, Floriea is looking like a guy who is getting noticed. Watch him in training camp and in the preseason games. Let’s see what he can do when the lights come on.

Speaking of prototypical slot receivers such as Welker, another example is Julian Edelman, who ironically is also from Kent State.

Maybe Floriea can become one of those rare Ohio trifectas: from Mentor to Kent State to Cleveland.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/6/29/24458163/luke-floriea-browns-receiver-roster-training-camp

 

[Cleveland Browns]

2 Browns rookies noted among 25 NFL draft picks expected to make “instant-impact”

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The 2025 NFL draft could be a turning point for the Browns defense

The Cleveland Browns 2025 NFL draft will be judged based on the Travis Hunter trade, which will lead to comparisons with DT Mason Graham, RB Quinshon Judkins, and whoever the Browns select with their extra pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Cleveland’s roster will need production from at least five of their seven-man draft class (and possibly a sixth if one of the rookie quarterbacks takes the starting role). As always in the NFL, players rarely can make an impact in a vacuum. System, talent around them and opportunities to produce are among the most important variables.

According to The NFL Network, two Browns rookie defenders should make an instant impact, starting with Graham:

Top-five picks always face immense pressure to produce, but this juicy subplot brightens the spotlight. Working in Graham’s favor: He gets to line up alongside the force of nature that is Myles Garrett. And he was one of the cleanest evals in this draft class, as a former wrestler who consistently wins with leverage, heavy hands and a non-stop motor. I anticipate early game-wreckage, inherently spawning an unthinkable development: a whole bunch of Ohioans praising a Michigan man.

Playing behind Garrett and Graham, as well as Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah missing the season, should be very helpful for LB Carson Schwesinger as well:

Rangy and instinctive with skills to defend against the run or pass, Schwesinger fits the mold of the modern off-ball linebacker. And playing behind Cleveland’s Myles Garrett-led front should keep the rookie pretty clean, allowing him to fly around the field and stuff the stat sheet.

It was somewhat surprising that Judkins did not get a spot at running back. Ashton Jeanty was bound for one of two spots, but Denver Broncos RJ Harvey snagged the other despite three other backs selected ahead of him, but after Jeanty.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...nstant-impact-carson-schwesinger-mason-graham

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Tuesday’s Daily Dawg Chow: Stadium Mustard interview, 2026 Mock Drafts, Steelers trade and more

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The latest Cleveland Browns news and notes from around the NFL in the Sunday Dawg Chow.

The latest Cleveland Browns coverage from Dawgs By Nature, along with additional news from around the NFL, in another sweltering and possibly rainy edition of the Daily Dawg Chow, this time its Tuesday, July 1st’s version.

Dawgs By Nature:

• Exclusive Interview with Stadium Mustard’s CEO talking Cleveland, mustard and more (Barry Shuck) - Another great exclusive interview by our Barry Shuck
• ESPN’s Mock Draft adds QB, OT for Browns (Jared Mueller) - Arch Manning will get a lot of attention, but he’s not the QB1 in Matt Miller’s Summer Mock Draft.
• Success in 2025 could create a 2026 NFL draft dilemma (Damon Wolfe) - In his final piece for DBN, Damon looks at a best-case scenario for the Browns
• The 3-round national mock draft has some interesting picks for the Browns (Tom Moore) - An unknown QB pick starts things off, then another edge rusher, OT, and WR were added
• Our Monday Daily Trivia is also a linebacker, see if you can guess in less than 5 hints (Jared Mueller)
• Steelers trade impacts both sides of the ball, which means Browns flop has more responsibility (Jared Mueller) - A really interesting move in the AFC North may not be the upgrade some thought it was at first

Cleveland Browns:

• TE analysis - David Njoku’s return to Pro Bowl level in 2025 (The OBR) - The Legend, Fred Greetham, breaks down how Njoku can take a step back up
• CB Greg Newsome II wants to play more, unhappy with 2024 (Cleveland.com) - Newsome has been the subject of trade rumors for years but wants to play more in 2025.
• Governor Mike DeWine expected to sign budget that clears way for Browns stadium in Brooke Park (Fox 8)- Despite some pushback, DeWine is expected to sign the two-year state operating budget.
• Answering 16 questions about the Browns Brook Park stadium (Cleveland.com) - What should Cleveland and Cleveland fans expect?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...s-stadium-mustard-nfl-mock-draft-arch-manning

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Haslams ‘appreciate the support’ of state lawmakers in stadium funding

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs state budget providing $600M for domed stadium in Brook Park. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb shares his disappointment.

The Cleveland Browns may not be loading the moving trucks just yet, but their journey to a new stadium in Brook Park is oh so close to being finalized.

Last week, state lawmakers approved $600 million, which represents half the $1.2 million in public funding to construct the domed stadium. Haslam Sports Group quickly followed by purchasing 176 acres of land near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport for the project, which, in addition to the stadium, includes a mixed-use lifestyle and entertainment district.

Governor Mike DeWine signed the state budget late Monday evening, ensuring that the $600 million will be on the way. In addition, the approved budget includes language to update the so-called Modell Law, which seeks to stop professional sports teams from leaving their taxpayer-supported stadiums unless they receive permission from city leaders or provide an opportunity for locals to buy the team.

The law now only applies to a team looking to leave the state, and as long as the team fulfills its stadium lease, the team would be considered compliant. The Browns are only moving about 13 miles away, and team ownership has said it plans to play out its current lease at Huntington Bank Field, so that should clear out the ongoing legal fight with the City of Cleveland.

Finally, the budget also guarantees that the Browns will continue to receive one-third of the revenue from Cuyahoga County’s “sin tax” on beer, wine, liquor, and cigarettes.

Thrilled to move forward on a transformative project with generational impact pic.twitter.com/gym7FVv2o2

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 1, 2025​

With everything coming together in their favor, owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam issued a statement on Tuesday thanking DeWine and other state leaders for their support:

“We respect the firm commitment and leadership that Governor DeWine and the Ohio Senate and House have shown in their collaborative work to find a responsible way to support such a transformative project, one that will create a generational impact for our region and the State. Our fans deserve a world-class facility, and we are committed to building a state-of-the-art enclosed stadium that resonates with Cleveland, highlighting our loyal and passionate fans and the Dawg Pound, while also incorporating innovation, bold design, and an immersive experience.

“The new enclosed Huntington Bank Field will be completely fan-centric, a first-of-its-kind design in the NFL, and a dynamic venue that draws visitors from across Ohio and beyond, for concerts and significant sporting events throughout the year. This premiere facility will anchor a major lifestyle and entertainment development and be a catalyst for one of Northeast Ohio’s largest economic development projects ever, and something our community will be proud of and can enjoy for years to come. We appreciate the support of State leaders and their belief in this transformative project.”

While this is another major step toward Brook Park, the Haslams still have a few more details to take care of before the move becomes officially official:

• While the Modell Law language was changed to have a more realistic take on teams moving, Cleveland City officials are likely still going to put up as much of a fuss as possible, if nothing more than to look good to the voting public.

Mayor Bibb’s statement on the $600 million in taxpayer dollars designated for a domed stadium in Brook Park. pic.twitter.com/UvnUFte9Fh

— Office of Mayor Bibb (@CLEMayorsOffice) July 1, 2025​

Along those lines, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb released a statement sharing his disappointment in the state:

We are deeply disappointed that the final state budget includes both a $600 million public subsidy for a domed stadium in Brook Park and changes to Ohio’s Modell Law - provisions we strongly opposed and requested be removed.

Relocating the Browns will divert economic activity from downtown, create a competing entertainment district, and disrupt the momentum of our lakefront redevelopment. It will also trigger substantial taxpayer-funded infrastructure upgrades - including highway reconfigurations and public safety enhancements - adding significant public costs on top of the stadium itself.

We also remain firmly opposed to the changes in the Modell Law, which was enacted to protect communities that have made substantial public investments in their sports teams. Undermining this statute sets a troubling precedent and leaves cities like Cleveland with fewer tools to safeguard long-standing public assets.

We are embarking on a transformative journey to revitalize our lakefront into a thriving, accessible destination that inspires and unites our community. For decades, Clevelanders have dreamed about the opportunity at our lakefront, and we want to deliver on that shared vision for the future.

With growing major public investment, including $150M in state and federal grants, the City will deliver on transformational infrastructure that will unlock redevelopment and strengthen the waterfront’s role in the region’s future.

We will continue to protect taxpayer resources and pursue this once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine our shoreline. Clevelanders deserve a world-class lakefront, and we will deliver on that promise.

• The same goes for Cuyahoga County officials, where Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne has been the biggest critic of the project. And while $178 million, the contribution the Haslams are seeking from the county, is not chump change, it is hard to see the Haslams letting that derail the project if Ronayne is somehow able to convince his fellow county officials not to support a development within the county.
• There may also be another legal challenge as former state lawmakers Jeffrey Crossman and Marc Dann announced last week they would be filing a class action lawsuit against the state if it uses the unclaimed fund account to finance the $600 million.

Those items should be handled without too much sweat, so all that remains is for the shovels to hit the dirt in Brook Park, the team to play out its current lease through the 2028 season, and everyone can show up in the domed stadium for the opening game in September 2029.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...support-of-state-lawmakers-in-stadium-funding