As the Cleveland Browns look to keep things going after a promising 2020 season, these five players will be gone by Week 1.
Wait, the Cleveland Browns are actually good now? Under first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski last year, they went 11-5, blew out division rival Pittsburgh in the Wild Card Round and gave the Chiefs a solid test in a Divisional Round loss.
Navigating the AFC North is always difficult, but the Browns have a case as the second-best team in the division right now. The roster is full of talent, as a testament to the work GM Andrew Berry and the front office has done in the draft and free agency.
The key for the Browns is avoiding a let down in 2021 after meeting 2019’s lofty expectations last year. But the leadership is in place to avoid that drop-off.
As the Browns evaluate things over the rest of the offseason, these five players won’t be on the roster by Week 1.
5 Cleveland Browns who won’t be on the roster by Week 1
5. Elijah Lee, linebacker
The Browns signed Lee after he was waived by the Detroit Lions last season. In six games for them, almost solely as a special teamer (148 special teams snaps, four defensive snaps), he had six total tackles.
Being a core special teamer might get him a roster spot, but the Browns don’t need to fret too much when they ultimately let Lee go.