The Opening Drive 5/9: Browns Rookie Minicamp Day One - News, Notes and More
With rookie minicamp underway we look at the pertinent information from day one.
The next phase of the Cleveland Browns’ offseason officially began Friday as rookie minicamp opened in Berea with one of the most intriguing rookie classes the organization has assembled in years. From high-profile draft picks to undrafted free agents fighting for a chance, the weekend marked the first real look at the Browns’ 2026 class on the field together.
The camp runs May 8-10 at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus and includes 53 players. That group consists of the Browns’ 10 draft picks, 12 signed undrafted free agents, 25 tryout players, and six reserve/future contract players already attached to the roster.
2026 NFL Draft Picks (10 players)
QB Taylen Green
WR Denzel Boston
WR KC Concepcion
TE Joe Royer
TE Carsen Ryan
OT Spencer Fano
OT Austin Barber
C Parker Brailsford
LB Justin Jefferson
S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Undrafted Free Agents (12 players)
RB Davon Booth - 5-8, 192 lbs - Mississippi State
RB TJ Harden -6-0, 218 lbs - SMU
WR Kole Wilson - 5-7, 177 lbs - Baylor
OT Izavion Miller - 6-5, 306 lbs - Auburn
DE Logan Fano - 6-4, 252 lbs - Utah
DT Bernard Gooden - 6-0, 280 lbs - Louisiana State
DE Tyreak Sapp - 6-2, 273 lbs - Florida
DE Khordae Sydnor - 6-4, 264 lbs - Vanderbilt
CB DeCarlos Nicholson - 6-4, 200 lbs - Southern California
CB Nate Evans - 5-11, 191 lbs - Delaware
S Zion Washington - 6-1, 208 lbs - Boise State
P Wes Pahl - 6-4, 207 lbs - Oklahoma State
Tryouts (25 players)
QB Bryson Barnes - 6-1, 213 lbs - Utah State
WR Aaron Anderson - 5-8, 198 lbs - Louisiana State
WR Daejon Reynolds - 6-1, 202 lbs - UNLV
WR Jaelon Reagor - 5-10, 203 lbs - Texas Christian
TE Jyrin Johnson - 6-2, 241 lbs - Bowling Green
OG Cole Hutson 6-4, 311 lbs - Texas
OG Korion Sharpe - 6-2, 307 lbs - North Carolina A&T
OG Ryan Mosesso - 6-4, 300 lbs - Massachusetts
C Carson Bruno - 6-3, 302 lbs - Texas Christian
OT Micah Pettus - 6-6, 335 lbs - Florida State
DT Carter Hewitt - 6-4, 282 lbs - Illinois
DT Malachi Cooper - 6-4, 289 lbs - San Diego
DE Bradley Weaver - 6-3, 267 lbs - Rutgets
DT Braxton Fely - 6-1, 291 lbs - Boise State
LB Reid Carrico - 6-2, 226 lbs - West Virginia
LB Tanlela Latu - 6-1, 233 lbs - San Jose State
LB James Conway - 6-2, 236 lbs - Fordham
LB Trent Hendrick - 6-0, 231 lbs - James Madison
S Phillip Dunnam - 6-0, 181 lbs - Central Florida
S Jaden Taylor - 5-9, 190 lbs - West Alabama
S Trevor Woods - 6-1, 206 lbs - Jacksonville State
CB Aaron Harris - 5-9, 192 lbs - North Carolina A&T
CB Malcolm Bell - 5-11, 175 lbs - Michigan State
CB Joshuah Moten - 5-11, 187 lbs - Southern Mississippi
LS John Ferimann - 6-2, 245 lbs - Ohio State
NOTES: Former first-round pick of the Eagles, Jalen Reagor, was one of the tryout players participating in camp. The Eagles selected Jalen Reagor with the 21st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, one spot before Justin Jefferson came off the board. That decision has only looked worse with time, as Jefferson has become one of the best receivers in football and already looks on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
Reagor lasted just two seasons in Philadelphia before being dealt to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2022 season. In those two years with the Eagles, he managed just 64 catches for 685 yards and three touchdowns. Between the lack of production and needless mistakes on the field, he quickly lost favor within the organization and never came close to living up to where he was drafted.
NOTES: I was under the impression that Aaron Anderson was one of the team’s undrafted free agents; he was listed as a tryout player on Friday. Anderson is an intriguing WR prospect out of LSU.
Every year, the rookie minicamp includes a handful of players who technically aren’t rookies but are still permitted to participate. These players are typically on reserve/future deals. This is another opportunity for them to work with the team and try to protect their spot from the 25 players participating in a tryout capacity.
Non-Rookies on Roster (6 players)
RB Ahmani Marshall
WR Luke Floriea
TE Sal Cannella
TE Caden Prieskorn
OT Jack Conley
P Nik Constantinou
The Cleveland Browns did a good job putting together a full 53-man roster for the rookie minicamp, giving the weekend a more real training camp atmosphere than a simple tryout setting. It gives these players a chance to take what they are learning during installs and meetings and immediately apply it on the field, while also creating real competition during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work.
The rookie minicamp also includes Zoom meetings leading up to the weekend, giving the coaching staff a chance to get draft picks, undrafted free agents, and tryout players introduced to parts of the install before they even arrive in Berea. That early prep work helps the players hit the ground running once camp opens, allowing the staff to move through installs quickly and accomplish more on the field. From there, the Cleveland Browns begin each day with morning meetings and a walkthrough before transitioning to the live practice period in the afternoon.
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Latest Podcasts:
Rookie Minicamp Day 1 Recap, and Spencer/ Logan Fano Draft Introduction Series
Latest Browns News, and Denzel Boston Draft Introduction Series
Big NFL Events for Cleveland, and Current Browns Impacted the Most by the 2026 Draft
Deshaun Watson and the Quarterback Race, and 2027 Mock Draft Names to Know
Latest Articles:
The Opening Drive 5/8: Contemplating Cedric Tillman’s Future with the Browns
Opening Drive 5/7: No Team Knows the Supplemental Draft Quite Like Cleveland
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Opening Drive 5/4: Free Agent Options at Nickel and Edge: Upgrading or Development
Opening Drive 5/3: Updated Cleveland Browns 2026 Depth Chart
Opening Drive 4/29: Everything Andrew Berry Had To Say Post-Draft
Opening Drive 4/28: Browns 2026 Draft Grades: Consensus Says The Browns Were Among The Best
Latest Film Rooms:
FILM ROOM: Denzel Boston's Draft Pick Profile and Scouting Report
FILM ROOM: KC Concepcion Draft Pick Profile and Scouting Report
Day One Takeaways
Obviously, most of the attention was on the Cleveland Browns draft class. A lot of that focus centered around the new wide receivers, tight end Joe Royer, and, of course, quarterback Taylen Green. Those are naturally the players who are easiest to evaluate in this type of setting because they are constantly involved in the 7-on-7 and team periods, while also getting chances to show off movement skills, timing, route running, and command of the offense.
Green in particular drew plenty of attention throughout the practice session. The physical traits immediately stand out in person, and the rookie minicamp gives him a chance to show how quickly he can process information, communicate in the huddle, and apply install concepts from the classroom onto the field. For a young quarterback stepping into a new system, simply looking comfortable running the operation matters at this stage. For many, his size and athleticism are shocking at first.
The nature of this setting does not really lend itself to sweeping declarations about offensive linemen like Spencer Fano or Austin Barber, especially without pads on and without full contact periods. Offensive line play is difficult to properly evaluate in shorts because so much of the position depends on leverage, anchor strength, hand placement, and full-speed physicality. Still, both players looked the part physically and moved well during individual and team periods, which is encouraging and all you can reasonably ask for in this environment.
The rookie draft class looking the part was really the overarching takeaway from the opening day of rookie minicamp. The consensus feeling was that the headline names from this draft class impressed, appeared comfortable and prepared, and generally took advantage of opportunities that came their way.
Social Media At A Glance
Updates For Saturday
CB Michael Coates Signs
One name we have talked quite a bit about throughout this process is undrafted free agent cornerback Michael Coates, whose name was notably absent from Friday’s initial UDFA list released by the Cleveland Browns. However, as of Saturday morning, Coates has officially signed with the team and should now be able to participate for the remainder of rookie minicamp weekend.
To make room on the roster, Cleveland waived tight end Sal Cannella.
Coates brings an interesting developmental background after appearing in 56 career games with 41 starts across stops at East Central Community College, Nevada, and West Virginia. During his lone season at West Virginia in 2025, he started all 12 games at cornerback and totaled 30 tackles, seven passes defended, and one fumble recovery. He will wear number No. 39. and is an intriguing addition to the team’s competition at nickel cornerback.
Browns Claim DT Chatman From Giants
The Browns claimed defensive tackle Elijah Chatman off waivers from the New York Giants on Friday. The roster spot became available after placing linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on the reserve/PUP list.
Chatman originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Giants out of SMU in 2024. He quickly turned heads during training camp, earning a spot on New York’s initial 53-man roster as a rookie. Chatman appeared in all 17 games and made three starts, finishing with 21 total tackles. However, his 2025 season was spent on the Giants’ practice squad before being waived this week. Now, he lands with the Browns, where the interior defensive line is already extremely deep.
Browns Film Breakdown will return with more All-22 film this week of draftees.
