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BEREA ― Who's potentially the next Ronnie Hickman? Or, how about the next Gage Larvadain?
Browns rookies arrived July 23 to start their first NFL training camp. Their veteran teammates show up July 28, and the first full-squad practice is July 29.
A month from then, the Browns will have to trim the roster from 90 players to the initial 53-man roster. Who among the undrafted free agents, much like Hickman in 2023 and Larvadain in 2025, could find a way to stick when the cuts are made?
Here are a few candidates to ponder in that position, listed alphabetically.
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There are not many options to choose from on the offensive side of the ball, in part because of the eight draft picks used on that side of the ball. There are five UDFAs on the offense, so the one we went with is Anderson, the diminutive but talented LSU product. The wide receiver group is already very young, with three spots seemingly assured for rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston and second-year player Isaiah Bond, and the exact number they plan to keep is unknown. Anderson was impressive during rookie minicamp, although his touches did go down once they got deeper into OTAs and minicamp. Considering the amount of work the Browns are going to need to give quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders to settle their battle, it may offer Anderson reps to showcase himself enough to earn a roster spot.
There are seven UDFAs on defense, which is more than on the offense, but still not necessarily a whole lot. Carrico is also at a position where there's a whole lot of former UDFAs — Winston Reid, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold — from previous years who are still trying to stick as well. The fact he's on the roster at such a position indicates there's something about Carrico that's intriguing to the Browns. The former West Virginia product, by way of Ohio State, is a sure, physical tackler, which makes him attractive. There's also the special teams piece of the equation to consider here, which is how Reid and Mascarenas-Arnold both found their way onto the roster previously.
The West Virginia product is one of two UDFAs at cornerback. The Browns have some depth issues at that position behind Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell and, likely, Myles Harden. That could provide a chance for Coats to swipe a spot away from an older veteran like Tre Avery or D'Angelo Ross if he can put together some high-quality reps in training camp. Defensive backs coach Brandon Lynch spoke during minicamp of liking Coats' "edge" as well as the fact he can play at "all three levels." Lynch summed up the UDFA who could find a way onto the roster in general when he said Coats had a "relatively average floor, but his ceiling is tremendous."
We already know a Fano is making the roster, since the Browns took offensive tackle Spencer Fano No. 9 overall in the draft. However, his older brother Logan has also been with the team as an undrafted free agent since the draft, and has shown some promise in that span. Often, the two brothers have found themselves going against each other in drills, with Logan lining up at right defensive end across from Spencer. The reality is the Browns could use some depth at the defensive end position, and the older Fano held up well during the OTAs and minicamp. The audition continues over the next six weeks.
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Again, there are more options on the defensive side of the football than on offense. There are also more options at defensive end than at any other position. In fact, all three UDFAs at the position ― Khordae Sydnor, being the third ― could be options depending on how things play out. We picked Sapp over Syndor because of the talent he flashed during his career at Florida. Like most of the Gators, Sapp had a relatively disappointing 2025 season, with just one sack and 3.5 tackles for loss. However, the potential was showcased during the 2024 season when he had seven sacks, 13 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. A former SEC edge rusher is certainly, at the very least, a intriguing prospect to watch.
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What rookie UDFAs could make Browns' initial roster? Here are 5 to watch
Continue reading...
Browns rookies arrived July 23 to start their first NFL training camp. Their veteran teammates show up July 28, and the first full-squad practice is July 29.
A month from then, the Browns will have to trim the roster from 90 players to the initial 53-man roster. Who among the undrafted free agents, much like Hickman in 2023 and Larvadain in 2025, could find a way to stick when the cuts are made?
Here are a few candidates to ponder in that position, listed alphabetically.
Subscribe to Browns Insider newsletter
Aaron Anderson, wide receiver
There are not many options to choose from on the offensive side of the ball, in part because of the eight draft picks used on that side of the ball. There are five UDFAs on the offense, so the one we went with is Anderson, the diminutive but talented LSU product. The wide receiver group is already very young, with three spots seemingly assured for rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston and second-year player Isaiah Bond, and the exact number they plan to keep is unknown. Anderson was impressive during rookie minicamp, although his touches did go down once they got deeper into OTAs and minicamp. Considering the amount of work the Browns are going to need to give quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders to settle their battle, it may offer Anderson reps to showcase himself enough to earn a roster spot.
Reid Carrico, linebacker
There are seven UDFAs on defense, which is more than on the offense, but still not necessarily a whole lot. Carrico is also at a position where there's a whole lot of former UDFAs — Winston Reid, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold — from previous years who are still trying to stick as well. The fact he's on the roster at such a position indicates there's something about Carrico that's intriguing to the Browns. The former West Virginia product, by way of Ohio State, is a sure, physical tackler, which makes him attractive. There's also the special teams piece of the equation to consider here, which is how Reid and Mascarenas-Arnold both found their way onto the roster previously.
Michael Coats, cornerback
The West Virginia product is one of two UDFAs at cornerback. The Browns have some depth issues at that position behind Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell and, likely, Myles Harden. That could provide a chance for Coats to swipe a spot away from an older veteran like Tre Avery or D'Angelo Ross if he can put together some high-quality reps in training camp. Defensive backs coach Brandon Lynch spoke during minicamp of liking Coats' "edge" as well as the fact he can play at "all three levels." Lynch summed up the UDFA who could find a way onto the roster in general when he said Coats had a "relatively average floor, but his ceiling is tremendous."
Logan Fano, defensive end
We already know a Fano is making the roster, since the Browns took offensive tackle Spencer Fano No. 9 overall in the draft. However, his older brother Logan has also been with the team as an undrafted free agent since the draft, and has shown some promise in that span. Often, the two brothers have found themselves going against each other in drills, with Logan lining up at right defensive end across from Spencer. The reality is the Browns could use some depth at the defensive end position, and the older Fano held up well during the OTAs and minicamp. The audition continues over the next six weeks.
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Tyreak Sapp, defensive end
Again, there are more options on the defensive side of the football than on offense. There are also more options at defensive end than at any other position. In fact, all three UDFAs at the position ― Khordae Sydnor, being the third ― could be options depending on how things play out. We picked Sapp over Syndor because of the talent he flashed during his career at Florida. Like most of the Gators, Sapp had a relatively disappointing 2025 season, with just one sack and 3.5 tackles for loss. However, the potential was showcased during the 2024 season when he had seven sacks, 13 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. A former SEC edge rusher is certainly, at the very least, a intriguing prospect to watch.
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What rookie UDFAs could make Browns' initial roster? Here are 5 to watch
Continue reading...
