A week after the Cleveland Browns trimmed their roster to the initial 53, fans are still sorting through the biggest surprises - and the loudest reaction centered on a local name many expected to stick around.
In this week’s Reacts poll, Luke Floriea topped the list with 41% of the vote as the biggest roster shock. The wide receiver’s release hit harder because Cleveland didn’t just leave him off the active roster - the team also chose not to sign him to the practice squad. Floriea had a tryout with another team this past Friday, but after an excellent training camp, the situation has left him dangerously close to never getting a real NFL opportunity again.
Dillon Gabriel’s path to injured reserve came next, drawing 33% of the vote. Before that move, some around the team were already wondering whether Cleveland might look for a trade partner for the quarterback. That possibility seemed even more remote after Gabriel’s three-touchdown first half in the final preseason game, which made the sudden “back injury” designation a stunner.
The third-biggest surprise, at 21%, was the Browns cutting KT Leveston outright. There wasn’t quite the same emotional pull there, but the move still raised eyebrows.
Leveston had been in a battle at right guard with Teven Jenkins once camp opened, and when Austin Barber began taking reps there late in camp, it looked like Cleveland was simply exploring Barber’s flexibility. Instead, that shift helped push Leveston out of the depth picture, especially with Zak Zinter outperforming him for a reserve job.
Only 5% of fans picked Taylen Green making the roster as the biggest surprise, but his presence still stood out. He may not be ready to “quarterback,” but his speed gives the Browns something they can use in packages this season, and the team clearly didn’t want to let that tool slip away.
Since the roster was finalized, Cleveland has also made a few more moves. The Browns waived DE Julian Okwara and CB Michael Coats, and placed DT Kalia Davis on injured reserve. To shore up the roster, they added some additional depth with DE Sam Williams, CB Noah Igbinoghene, and CB Toriano Pride.
In Other News...
Browns Suddenly Face A QB Depth Question With Dillon Gabriel Sidelined
Dillon Gabriels sudden trip to injured reserve has turned what looked like a straightforward quarterback setup into an early-season depth issue for Cleveland. The rookie was coming off a strong finish to the preseason, when he helped lead the Browns to a win in the finale and threw three touchdowns, but a back injury now will keep him out for at least the first four games.
Deshaun Watson has already been named the Week 1 starter, so the immediate focus shifts to what the Browns have behind him while Gabriel recovers. For a team that had a chance to evaluate its young passer before the games mattered, the timing is especially awkward, and it leaves Cleveland waiting to see how quickly Gabriel can get back into the mix once he is eligible to return. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Rookie Is Suddenly Pushing For A Role Fans Didn't Expect
The Browns spent a late-round draft pick on Carsen Ryan with more than one job in mind, and early signs suggest they may have found a player willing to do the dirty work. Cleveland took two tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft, but Ryan has stood out to coaches for his versatility and the kind of physical edge that can help him carve out a place early, especially with other candidates unavailable.
Todd Monken has already praised Ryans willingness to lean into a blocking role, and the Browns have even left open the possibility of using him as a fullback. That matters because Michael Burton remains on the roster despite injury concerns, which gives Cleveland a practical reason to keep exploring options at the position while Ryan keeps making the case that he can be more than just a traditional tight end. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Young Core Has A Real Shot At Rare Team History
Myles Garretts 2025 sack binge already put one Browns mark in the books, and it has created a rare kind of conversation around Clevelands young core. The 2026 season could become a showcase for a few players who have a real chance to put their names alongside some of the teams most durable records, with linebacker Carson Schwesinger coming off a rookie year that put him close to the top of the Browns tackle chart and a pair of rookie wideouts in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston positioned to push the clubs receiving standards.
Quinshon Judkins may be the most intriguing name in the mix because the rushing record is the sort of number that usually takes both talent and opportunity to threaten. None of these outcomes is guaranteed, and that is part of what makes the setup interesting for Cleveland: the Browns have a young group with enough upside to make record-watch a legitimate part of the season, even if the bigger payoff still has to play out on the field. [Read more 🡒]