The Raven Report 9.6.15: The #Browns & #NFL Cut Day

By @nevaRWilliams

Welcome everyone to The Raven Report for Sunday, September 6, 2015.

As many of you know, Saturday was the final cut down day for the upcoming NFL season. While I’ll get to some notable cuts in a bit, I’d like to go over the cuts made by the Cleveland Browns.

First of all, in case you missed it earlier in the week, the Browns had to cut down from 90 players to 75. The big names of that group were 2011 draft pick but oft injured defensive lineman, Phil Taylor. While Taylor seemed to get mixed reactions about his play from fans and media alike, he seemed to have trouble staying on the field due to injuries suffered every season. Along with that, the selection of Danny Shelton in this past year’s NFL draft made Taylor expendable, since Shelton has shown off his power, drive and fresh legs in the preseason. Other names in the 75 cut, was local Cleveland fan favorite, wide receiver Shane Wynn.

Onto the cuts down to 53. If you watched Thursday’s Browns vs. Bears preseason game, then you know the lackluster performance that quarterback Thad Lewis put on. Lewis, in his second stint with the Browns, finished the game poorly with just 100 yards passing, one interception and took on 7 sacks. Any QB who puts on that showing deserves to be cut, and thats what the Browns did on Saturday afternoon. Other recognizable names cut Saturday afternoon were wide receivers Josh Lenz, Darrius Jennings and Vince Mayle. Mayle was a 4th round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but did not give anything worth noting throughout four preseason games.

Josh Lenz on the other hand proved to many in the Browns organization and fellow teammates that he just might have what it takes to become an NFL wide receiver. But with the Browns keeping four tight ends, Gary Barnidge, Jim Dray, EJ Bibbs and Rob Housler, younger players like Lenz, Jennings and Mayle became expendable. For me, I still feel like there is a chance that Lenz, Jennings or Mayle may still find a spot on the Browns practice squad.

The rest of the Cleveland Browns cuts are as follows:

QB Thad Lewis, OL Karim Barton, QB Pat Devlin, RB Shaun Draughn, DB Landon Feichter, RB Tim Flanders, DB Kendall James, WR Darrius Jennings, OL Erle Ladson, WR Josh Lenz, WR Vince Mayle, DL Jacobbi McDaniel, OL Andrew McDonald, OL Darrian Miller, DB Robert Nelson Jr., OL Vinston Painter, LB Hayes Pullard III, DB Joe Rankin, LB Mike Reilly, DB De'Ante Saunders, DL Dylan Wynn, OL Eric Olsen, DT Phil Taylor, TE Anthony Ezeakunne, WR Shane Wynn, LB Everette Brown, LB Moise Fokou, RB Jalen Parmele and DB Aaron Ross.

With the cutting of so many offensive linemen and both Thad Lewis and Pat Devlin, I fully believe that the Browns will look at the waiver wire to see if they can find a suitable back up quarterback, as well as a few linemen.

In what some believe to be a “stunner cut”, the San Francisco 49ers cut defensive lineman Darnell Dockett after giving him $2 million in guaranteed money in the offseason. It’s believed that Dockett may retire and even begin an on-air broadcasting career.

Elsewhere around the league, the Philadelphia Eagles cut QB Tim Tebow, despite a solid showing in the fourth preseason game. The Eagles also recently traded QB Matt Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals.

Former Colt receiver Reggie Wayne was let go by the New England Patriots. Some industry insiders believe that Wayne could opt for retirement.

Speaking of former Indianapolis Colts, the Tennessee Titans parted with Hakeem Nicks after having just three receptions for 59 yards in his two preseason games with the Titans.

Other notable cuts around the NFL:

DT Devon Still, Bengals
QB Matt Cassel, Bills
RB Jonas Gray, Patriots
WR James Jones, Giants
WR AJ Jenkins, Cowboys
FB Henry Hynoski, Giants
DE Jason Babin, Jets
QB Matt Flynn, Jets
DT Red Bryant, Bills
K Nick Novak, Chargers
LB Jameel McClain, Giants
OL Derek Sherrod, Chiefs

QB Christian Ponder, Raiders
S Taylor Mays, Raiders
P Steve Weatherford, Giants
WR Duron Carter, Colts
DE Da’Quan Bowers, Buccaneers
DE IK Enemkpali, Bills
QB Logan Thomas, Cardinals
DE Quentin Groves, Bills
LB Philip Wheeler, 49ers
QB Matt Simms, Bills
DB Will Blackmon, Seahawks

DB Charles James, Texans
WR EZ Nwachukwu, Texans
LB Kourtnei Browns, Texans
DT Jerel Worthy, Packers
DE Corey Wootton, Packers
LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Rams
QB Rex Grossman, Falcons
QB TJ Yates, Falcons
QB Josh Freeman, Dolphins
K Caleb Sturgis, Dolphins

DL Louis Nix, Texans
RB Storm Johnson, Jaguars
DL Josh Chapman, Colts
LB Matt Shaughnessy, Cardinals
QB Ryan Lindley, Patriots
LB James-Michael Johnson, Chiefs
FS Sanders Commings, Chiefs
OL Isaiah Battle, Rams
DB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Saints

Lastly, be sure to check out the Triple Threat CLE Radio Show on No Static Radio, Friday nights at 9pm EST on NoStaticRadio.com. This coming Friday, September 11, we will break down the Browns schedule for the season and go over the rest of the leagues games and much more.

On The Mark 5.4.15: Cleveland #Browns 2015 #NFLDraft Review

By @MarkW2112

The Cleveland Browns came away with 12 new players during the 2015 NFL Draft this past week.  Each player filled a need for the team and, in many ways, upgraded those positions drastically.  Here is the final list of new players: 

Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
1st Round, #12 pick overall 
Danny came in to the draft as the second best DT next to Leonard Williams.  At 339 pounds, he is exactly what the Browns need to try and plug up their run defense which was, yet again, horrific last year after Phil Taylor went down with injuries.  The Browns will see if he does live up to the Halata Ngata comparisons. 

Cameron Erving, C, Florida State 
1st Round, #19 pick overall:  
The Browns went in to meltdown mode on the offensive side of the ball last year when Alex Mack went down with a broken leg.  Which is why they drafted the versatile center who played left tackle in 2013.  Projected to play right guard in 2015, he should have no problems transitioning to center if/when Mack opts out of his contract after this season. 

Nate Orchard, OLB, Utah 
2nd round, #51 overall  
Orchard led the nation in sacks with 18.5 for the Utes.  He was projected to play in a 3-4 defense as an OLB pass rusher which should be a perfect fit for him to take over as Jabaal Sheard's replacement.  He'll join fellow Ute alumni Paul Krueger as the Browns look for more sacks in the coming season. 

Duke Johnson, RB, Miami.  
3rd round, #77 overall 
After losing out on getting Chris Conley from Georgia when Kansas City traded in front of them, the Browns selected Johnson, who's excellent vision and good hands will give the Browns a complimentary weapon in the backfield if not their new starting RB in 2015.  He left Miami as a their all time leader rusher with an average of 6.69 YPC during his 3 years.  He will also see time as a return man on special teams if not their new punt returner. 

Xavier Cooper, DT, Washington State 
3rd round, #97 overall 
The Browns traded picks to the New England Patriots to move back up in to the third round and select Cooper who was a possible pick for the Cincinnati Bengals at #99.  Cooper brings in the potential to be a disruptive pass rusher as he had 11 sacks last season.  He's a former TE and basketball player who has quick feet and excellent hand technique.  He should fit in perfectly with what the Browns are looking for as a rotational defensive end. 

Ibraheim Campbell, S, Northwestern 
4th round, #115 overall 
Looking to upgrade the safety position as well as an heir apparent to Donte Whitner, the Browns took Campbell as their first fourth round pick.  He will work well on special teams as his tackling as improved over time at Northwestern.  Projected in the 7th round, the Browns may have reached but obviously see potential in what some have called a "poor mans Landon Collins". 

Vince Mayle, WR, Washington State 
4th round, #123 overall 
Mayle has only been a receiver for 2 years but had 2 games where he had 252 receiving yards last year.  While Combine 40 time wasn't impressive, he appears to have a surprisingly quick burst once he gets the ball.  He will come in projected as the fourth or fifth receiver option but should see work as a kick returner on special teams his first year. 

Charles Gaines, CB, Louisville 
6th round, #189 overall 
For Mike Pettine, you can never have enough cornerbacks.  Which is why Gaines was chosen as the first of three 6th round picks for the Browns.  Gaines was a projected third round pick so the Browns got good value from him.  He could contribute to special teams as well as a possible nickelback if Justin Gilbert continues to struggle. 

Malcolm Johnson, TE, Mississippi St.   
6th round, #195 overall 
Johnson will more than likely be used as an H back/fullback more than a true tight end.  Known for his good hands and a vocal leader with MSST, he has the potential to bring some blocking in to create holes for the running backs and another special team specialist. 

Randall Telfer, TE, USC 
6th round, #198 overall 
Telfer only had 197 yards receiving but looks to be more of a blocking tight end.   

Hayes Pullard, ILB, USC 
7th round, 219 overall 
Going back to USC, the Browns took Pullard to bring in as a backup ILB.  Had some success but doesn't appear to be anything more than special teams depth at this time. 

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon 
7th round, 241 overall 
In what could be the steal of the draft, the Browns selected Ekpre-Olomu with their final selection.  If not for a severe knee injury he could have been a first round pick.  He is a tenacious player that could be a starter, possibly at safety, if he is able to come back from the knee injury.  Defintely a low risk/high reward pick for the Browns. 

My take:  The Browns went out and drafted football players.  Nothing flashy, just guys who were solid in their college careers.  They may have drafted themselves at least 3-4 players that could be starters this year.  Obviously, the quarterback position wasn't addressed but it appears the Browns are all in with McCown and Manziel in 2015.  But they more than addressed their defensive efficiencies, strengthened their offensive line and grabbed a wide receiver.  The Browns had an excellent approach by drafting  immediate starters in the first 2 rounds as well as thinking of the future. 

Draft grade: B+