When the Cleveland Browns snagged quarterback Taylen Green in the sixth round of April's draft, they might have just unearthed one of the most remarkable athletic talents the NFL has ever seen. Standing at nearly 6'6" and weighing 227 pounds, Green's performance at the NFL Combine was nothing short of spectacular. His feats in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, and broad jump left onlookers in awe, with his athletic prowess making history.
To put his achievements into perspective, Green's 9.99 Relative Athletic Score ranks him second among an impressive 1,128 quarterback prospects since 1987. His official 40-yard dash time of 4.36 seconds eclipses Terrelle Pryor's unofficial Pro Day mark, and he outleaped Josh Gordon in the vertical jump by seven-and-a-half inches and Joe Haden in the broad jump by nine inches. In a league where elite athleticism is often reserved for wide receivers and defensive backs, Green stands out as a physical marvel.
Yet, despite these jaw-dropping numbers, some projections, like those from Bleacher Report, suggest that Green might start his career as a QB4, potentially on the practice squad. Browns General Manager Andrew Berry has hinted that while Green is a phenomenal athlete, he still needs to refine his skills. However, the idea of him being sidelined as a mere practice squad player seems hard to fathom given his raw talent.
Andrew Berry has navigated similar quarterback conundrums before. In 2024, the Browns considered keeping Tyler Huntley as a fourth quarterback after an impressive preseason.
Fast forward to 2025, and the conversation shifted to retaining Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. This year, the debate centers around whether the Browns will carry four quarterbacks: Deshaun Watson, Sanders, Gabriel, and Green.
Historically, it's rare for NFL teams to keep four quarterbacks on their active roster. Over the past six years, only two teams, including the 2024 Browns, have done so, and even then, it was a temporary situation. Berry's strategy often involves preserving trade value for quarterbacks like Dillon Gabriel, who might be on the move if another team shows interest.
Berry's track record shows a reluctance to release draft picks prematurely. Of the 44 players he's drafted, only three have failed to make the initial roster. This suggests that Green's spot on the team is more secure than some might think.
The notion of moving Green to the practice squad is particularly puzzling. Once a player is released, they have the freedom to sign with any team, including rivals like the Baltimore Ravens, where Green could potentially learn from Lamar Jackson. It's a scenario the Browns would undoubtedly want to avoid.
In essence, whether or not Taylen Green sees the field this year, releasing him to the practice squad would be a risky move. Browns fans can take comfort in knowing that Andrew Berry likely shares this sentiment, valuing Green's potential too much to let him slip away.
In Other News...
Browns Rookie Just Sent A Clear Message About Clevelands QB Battle
The Browns quarterback competition is already drawing attention well before training camp opens, and rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion has added a little more fuel to the conversation. Clevelands young roster has spent the offseason hearing a steady message about competition and opportunity, and that tone seems to have taken hold as the team sorts through one of its biggest storylines heading into July 28.
Concepcions comments on Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson fit the kind of atmosphere the Browns have been trying to build, one that keeps the focus on earning roles rather than choosing sides. For a rookie trying to carve out his own place, it is a useful glimpse into a locker room that appears to be handling the quarterback battle with more unity than drama, even as the most important questions are still waiting for camp to answer them. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Already Have A Surprising Safe List Before Cutdown Day
With cutdown day looming on Aug. 30, the Browns already appear to have a short list of players they are comfortable keeping around as the roster gets trimmed to 53. That group includes a mix of recent draft picks, veteran adds and developmental pieces whose value comes from more than one position battle, with quarterback Taylen Green, wideout Tylan Wallace, lineman KT Leveston, safety Daniel Thomas and edge rusher Logan Fano all standing out as players the team seems ready to protect.
Greens place is the most interesting because a sixth-round pick usually still has work to do, yet his path looks far cleaner than the competition around him. Wallace brings a different kind of certainty as the lone external veteran receiver signing, while Leveston and Fano have each been given reasons to matter on the depth chart, and Thomas arrived with the kind of experience special teams staffs tend to trust. For a Browns roster still taking shape, the surprise is not just who is in the mix, but how early some of these names already feel safely written in. [Read more 🡒]