Browns 53-man roster: These 3 longshot players are sleepers to make the initial roster

Browns roster does not have a lot of space available especially with the 4-man QB competition

With training camp starting soon for the Cleveland Browns, the roster, as it stands, will eventually be trimmed down to 53, as it currently sits at 90. Everyone pretty much has the idea of who the roster locks are, who is on the bubble, and who are the longshots to make the team. Longshots are players who usually face an uphill battle to make the team and will have the entirety of the preseason to prove they are worthy of a roster spot.

These three longshot players are the sleepers to make the 53-man roster:

TE Sal Cannella

As someone who watches spring football more than the casual fan, the one name that I am familiar with the most is Cannella, who started his football career going back to defunct The Spring League. Cannella has been around multiple leagues. Take a look at these stops:

• TSL Generals (The Spring League)
• Miami Dolphins
• New Orleans Breakers (USFL)
• Green Bay Packers
• Arlington Renegades (1st in the XFL & 2nd stint in the UFL)
• Seattle Seahawks

Cannella recently signed with the Browns after another successful stint in the UFL with the Arlington Renegades. Cannella led the league in touchdown receptions and was a reliable target for Renegades QB Luis Perez.

Cannella has yet to appear in a regular-season game when he was signed with previous NFL teams, but considering how the Browns cut tight end Tre McKitty to pick him up, there is a chance Cannella will make the 53-man roster.

Cannella has shown he can produce, and he’s shown he can be a reliable target in the redzone in other leagues. He’ll get a fair chance to earn the third tight end roster spot and show he can be someone who can be called upon.

DT Ralph Holley

I started watching the Canadian Football League more closely, going back to 2022, mainly because there are players who used to play in the NFL and players who are there who could potentially play in the NFL if given the opportunity.

Enter Holley, who was a part of one of the best defensive lines in the CFL last season with Grey Cup Champions Toronto Argonauts. Despite missing a couple of games, Holley was tied for 1st in sack total alongside former teammate Jake Ceresna.

Holley has shown multiple times he can be an impact player and he was one of the more underrated players on the Argos defensive line.

The Browns interior defensive lineman room is somewhat deep but Holley is a sleeper for making the team.

WR Luke Floriea

For people who live in Northeast Ohio and watch high school football frequently, rookie Floriea is a familiar name. Floriea was a 3-star prospect coming out of Mentor High School and attended Kent State University (an hour drive from Mentor, Ohio) after he originally committed to Boston College.

(Editor’s Note: Floriea has a head start on being the lesser-known receiver that Browns fans “know” will be good if the team moves on from him.)

Judging from rookie minicamp and minicamp clips, Floriea has shown the capabilities of earning a shot to make the 53-man roster after he signed with the team after rookie minicamp. Floriea could be a reliable slot option (not as the starter but as a backup) on a team that seems not to have many slot guys and could potentially make his mark on special teams. If it’s someone who could make the team, it’s Floriea.

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Who is your sleeper to make the Browns 53-man roster? Share your thoughts below in the comment section