The Opening Drive 8/28: Browns Take Several Big Swings on the Practice Squad
What the organization liked most about each young talent selected for the 53.
I, for one, am very excited folks. Tonight marks five straight days of real football as the college world kicks off with the real thing and it’s going to be a true five day bender. Today’s podcast touches on the games looming this weekend, especially the big one here in Columbus, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
I really can’t believe we made it. Somehow each year it seems like the break between the Super Bowl and college kickoff gets longer. We have to suffer through one more weekend without the NFL but Ohio State vs Texas, LSU vs Clemson, and Notre Dame vs Miami will help us cope. And believe those scouts and general managers will be all over scouting those games. Also, give me Cincinnati +6.5 tonight against Nebraska.
On a Browns note, the final touches have been made to the practice squad and I’m here to update you on all the quick notes from the additions. Most of the squad is built on names that have been around since the summer, but, to the Browns credit, they went out expanded the roster with new names. It’s not the normal process these days with practice squads keeping those familiar to the franchise around, so they are taking some bigger swings here that are worth discussing.
Keep yourself dialed into our News Tab and we will have all the information throughout the day on waiver additions and practice squad agreements. Below you’ll find the latest from the All-22 study and more in the BFB catalog for supporters to dig into. Click the link to become a supporter if you haven’t already, and enjoy all the latest from Browns Film Breakdown.
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One thing is clear from the moves the Browns made: they are taking as many swings on possible long-term offensive line solutions as they can. It started with drafting Zac Zinter, then they signed Teven Jenkins, and now they are taking more serious swings on the offensive line on the practice squad. Let’s discuss those big bodies and more.
Cole Strange
One of the more surprising first round selections in the last five years, Strange has failed to live up the billing in his NFL career so far. He has plenty of experience at left guard, north of 1,500 starter snaps, and a few at center (see below, No. 69, nice), but the issues are consistency. He’s a better run blocker than pass blocker but his technique inconsistency has led to too many mistakes and has dealt with serious injuries the last two years — including a torn patellar tendon. He will try to solve those technique issues in Cleveland behind Bitonio and Teller and be ready when/if called upon.
Malachi Corley
This is a reclamation project here because the buzz around Corley is that the work ethic isn’t great and the attitude was also not what anyone there anticipated where there was real excitement when they drafted him. He has strong agility profile and ran a 40-yard dash in the 4.4 range. The tools are interesting but he struggles with the details of the position that matter most. We will see if he can figure out those details in Cleveland.
Logan Brown
This an upside swing from the most recent draft where Brown was an intriguing tackle prospect out of Kansas who had a strong physical profile with enough agility and movement skills to stick at tackle. He went to the Vikings and had a rougher preseason where the technique issues caught up with him in pass protection — particularly his strike timing and placement. (No. 62 at LT below)
However, he remains power, as you will see below, and if he can work through the process of technique in hand timing/placement, then you might have something here. Well worth the swing.
Garrett Dellinger
This is an interesting one as the Browns have plenty of guard depth but like Dellinger’s profile. The seventh round pick from LSU has an impressive 9.76 RAS mark and was among the better combinations of strength and movement skills. He has injury concerns that linger over from college but the athletic profile is worth the upside swing. His rookie camp was littered with inconsistency, paritcularly in pass protection, but that can be worked on. (No. 74 at LG below)
He moves well in zone schemes and has enough strength in double-teams and solo pickups to fight for some time in the future here. There was a relationship built up before the draft and I think had he not been selected by the Ravens late he would have found his way to Cleveland as a UDFA.
Edefuan Ulofoshio
The Bills moved on from Ulofoshio after just one season and it’s not totally surprising despite being a 5th round pick in 2024. Another strong 9.67 RAS score athlete, it’s not his movement and strength profile causing him to be cut. He doesn’t process well enough in both phases and can put himself into too many rough positions to make plays but the traits are worth a practice squad swing and he will bring plenty of effort into his role. (No. 48 below)
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Browns Film Breakdown will return later today with some film on the Browns waiver wire claims.
