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The Cleveland Browns have set themselves up for success heading into the 2021 season. The front office has been busy, stacking the roster with great talent on both sides of the ball. They play in a tough AFC North division, but Cleveland is shaping up to be the best team in the North.
This team is loaded, which means there will be some key position battles for backup roles. Cleveland is plentiful in a few positions, so we should see a handful of cuts from the running back, linebacker, and safety positions.
The Browns should be one of the best teams in the league next year, but before that happens, the coaching staff must bring the roster down to 53 players. With that said, here are three cut candidates on the Browns' roster bubble entering the 2021 training camp.
D'Earnest Johnson
D'Earnest Johnson had a moment to prove himself last year after Nick Chubb fell to injury. Johnson didn't do much with his opportunities and is now a potential cut victim. With Chubb and Kareem Hunt leading the way, Cleveland doesn't necessarily need much depth in the running back position.
Additionally, the front office brought in exciting rookie Demetric Felton. After watching Johnson underwhelm on the field last season, it's likely the Browns coaching staff takes a stab at Felton as the third running back on the depth chart. It never hurts to have young talent in the backfield, which favors Felton over Johnson in the Browns training camp.
Sheldrick Redwine
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Sheldrick Redwine just hasn't been consistent with his opportunities. He's either on fire, or he gets lost in the mix. Last year, the Browns went in another direction when injuries hit their secondary. Many believed Redwine was the next man up, but the Browns went another route instead.
Not being chosen to fill in for an injured player doesn't bode well for Redwine's chances. Now Cleveland has John Johnson, and they're hopeful Grant Delpit will return as well. Redwine is competing with five other safeties for a backup role and based on his past performances, he could be the odd man out.
Malcolm Smith
Similar to the safety position, the starting linebackers are pretty a lock for the Cleveland Browns. The front office selected Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, which means he's likely going to maintain a backup role to start his career. Additionally, Mack Wilson has been a solid linebacker for Cleveland, so he may retain a spot on the team as well.
That leaves Smith as the odd man out and competing with three other players for a backup role. The Browns are stacked defensively, so it'll be stiff competition for playing time. Special teams will be a possible option for Smith, but he may lose that position during training camp as well. With guys like Curtis Weaver, Tony Fields, and Elijah Lee all competing for a spot on the final roster, Malcolm Smith could find his way out of the door sooner, rather than later.
