OBR Insider Lane Adkins contributed to this report...
In addition to the seven players the Cleveland Browns drafted, team signed a number of undrafted rookies. They held their rookie minicamp, with a total of 56 players participating in the process, then made roster moves which included signing three wide receivers that participate in the camp as tryouts.
Undrafted rookies have routinely made the opening day roster for the Cleveland Browns since Andrew Berry has been general manager of the team. In fact, they've developed some trends in how they seemingly plan roster vacancies to attract the best possible fits to their team.
The best example is the safety position. In the 2023 draft, many projected the Browns to select one at some point in the draft. Seemingly, the Browns made the calculation that the talent more or less flattened out on day three. They used their draft to focus on premium positions, selecting offensive tackle Dawand Jones and defensive end Isaiah McGuire in the fourth round, quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and corner Cameron Mitchell in the fifth round and Luke Wypler, a center in the sixth round.
After the draft, the Browns signed two undrafted rookies, both from down I-71 at Ohio State. Tanner McCalister and Ronnie Hickman. The two competed for what ended up being one spot on the roster. Hickman ended up winning the roster spot. After the top three safeties went down with injury, Hickman ended up starting as the team's free safety for the final five games of the season, including the postseason.
Meanwhile, Jones and McGuire are both projected to start, Mitchell is part of a crowded corner room and Wypler will try to compete at center. DTR has since been traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in a move to acquire another quarterback in Kenny Pickett. As for Hickman, he will be in the mix to compete to start at free safety this season.