CLEVELAND ― The Browns and New England Patriors wrapped up their preseasons Aug. 27 with a 37-13 Cleveland win.
The final score isn’t really of importance. Nor is the Browns‘ 1-2 preseason record.
The only thing that matters is what the coaches and front office make of the performances they saw on the field. They could’ve seen something that warrants a spot on the initial 53-man roster, a practice-squad role, or maybe just a firm handshake and a “see you later.”
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That’s coming over the next 60 hours or so. Until those decisions are all finalized, we have time to dive into some overreactions that came from the third preseason game.
Taylen Green’s skillset makes him too valuable to get rid of, despite Dillon Gabriel’s poise
Dillon Gabriel looked poised and comfortable. He delivered passes to the right places, and gave receivers chances to make plays after they caught the ball.
Then Taylen Green came in to replace him in the second half and showed what potential looks like. Whether that potential turns into a reality of success is the tantalizing question the Browns must deal with over the next couple of days until the 6 p.m. Aug. 30 cutdown deadline to get the roster to 53.
Gabriel was 12-of-15 passing for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He scored on all five drives he had the ball, save for when the Browns got it with seven seconds left in the half.
Green was 5-of-7 passing for 27 yards, which barely tells his story over the final two quarters. The elusiveness and smooth, almost gliding way he ran for 66 yards on just eight carries is a skillset that isn’t in Gabriel’s tool bag.
Poise vs. potential could be the question the Browns have to grapple with as they form the back half of the quarterback room. Short- vs. long-term realities, and how much they can sacrifice the former potentially for the latter.
Luke Floriea’s big night a fitting way to cap a strong August
There’s no guarantees that, for all that wide receiver Luke Floriea did over the last several weeks, he’s got a spot waiting for him on the initial 53. That doesn’t mean there’s nowhere for him to go.
Floriea has had an outstanding camp, regardless of if his future is on the active roster or the practice squad, either in Cleveland or elsewhere else. He capped it with a three-catch, 29-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Patriots.
The question is if it was enough to separate Floriea from the group of wide receivers he’s together with in the fight to be the sixth wide receiver. That’s even assuming the Browns keep six wide receivers.
Floriea’s camp will be put against the likes of Malachi Corley or Gage Larvadain or Kole Wilson. Every aspect of it will be parsed over and over, and it could come down to the littlest of things to make the final call.
Floriea can rest easily, regardless, that he put his best foot forward in the competition. We’ll see where it leads.
Todd Monken, Andrew Berry have some decisions to make
What to do at quarterback and wide receiver are just two such questions coach Todd Monken and general manager Andrew Berry have to sort through before the roster deadline. There’s also the question of cornerbacks behind Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell, as well as how many safeties to carry.
Linebacker is no easy task, because you have rookie Justin Jefferson and third-year player Nathaniel Watson who both have played well when they’ve been on the field. Figuring out the defensive line because of all of the injuries that have hit it should be a challenge.
Offensive line after the starting five is coming together, but questions at backup center remain. Tight end, meanwhile, has been an injury-plagued mess that could be seeking more outside help.
That’s just a surface-level overreaction to those decisions. There’s more overreacting to come once they decisions are handed down.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. 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/
