The Cleveland Browns were awarded a pair of players on waivers Wednesday. After teams reduced their rosters down to the initial 53, teams had the opportunity to put in claims for eligible players through the waivers system. The Browns were awarded running back Raheim Sanders from the Los Angeles Chargers and corner Jarrick Bernard-Converse from the New York Jets.
The Browns will have to make a pair of corresponding roster moves in order to make space for the two players.
Sanders was a seventh-round pick with the Chargers. He played collegiately first for Arkansas and finished for South Carolina. He was the leading rusher for the Gamecocks this past season, but he had a monster season as a sophomore for the Razorbacks, rushing for 1,443 yards and ten touchdowns. Sanders is a back with some size, weighing nearly 220 pounds.
He has been an effective power runner, but he's provided a real benefit in the passing game as well. This past year, he had 316 receiving yards and two of his 13 total touchdowns.
On their initial 53, the Browns only had two running backs; Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson. The team continues to wait for clarity from the league on second round pick Quinshon Judkins. In the mean time, they needed another running back. Sanders gives them a similar dynamic in terms of size and his straight line speed.
The fact the Browns only had two backs on their roster means the team will not be likely cutting one of them to make room for Sanders. That cut will be coming from a different position group. It also means that Sanders is going to need to get up to speed quickly as he will almost certainly be deployed in that game, potentially getting touches.
As for Bernard, he was a sixth-round pick by the Jets in 2023. He spent the previous two seasons with the Jets, but didn't see the field much on defense. He was someone who contributed on special teams, playing a total of 211 snaps the past two seasons in a variety of roles.
In two preseasons, Bernard has played almost exclusively on the outside. The former LSU corner is 6' 3/4" and around 200 pounds. He has excellent athleticism. He tested with 4.4 speed, had a 42" vertical jump and a 6.94 three-cone, all of which suggests he is a good fit for the heavy man scheme the Browns employ.
After Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II, the Browns have plenty of questions to answer in that group. It's not clear who the nickel corner will be to start the season, as an example. Bernard will have a little over a week to try to get acclimated before the team takes on the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns will have until 4pm to announce their corresponding moves to come. They can also begin signing players to the practice squad. It's likely, the Browns hope they will be able to get the two players they release onto their practice squad. None of the players the Browns waived to get down to 53 were claimed, so they will be free to sign with a practice squad of their choosing.