Hardly knew ye

Surprised Austin Watkins Jr. won't wear the Seal Brown and Orange this season? So was I. Disappointed, too.

Despite a terrific, eye-opening training camp, the big wide receiver failed to make the Browns' final roster cut Tuesday. Fans wondered why. Me, too.

The Browns, perhaps to mollify angry fans, say they'd love to bring Watkins back to the practice squad after he clears waivers in the next 24 or so hours. Fat chance. Every National Football League team has tape of the second-best receiver during the league's exhibition season. 

That tape showed Watkins with 16 receptions for 257 yards and two touchdowns in four games. He was also first in total yards, average yards per catch, average yards per game and second in yards after the catch.

He won't clear waivers. 

FYI, Chicago tops the waiver list, followed by Houston, Arizona, Indianapolis, Denver, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas,  Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans. If you're concerned Watkins night wind up elsewhere in the AFC North, Pittsburgh is 17th, Baltimore is 23rd and Cincinnati is 29th.

After calming down, I got to thinking, trying to rationalize why the Browns' brass made this decision and concluded Watkins was a victim of a loaded wide receivers room. Quarterback Deshaun Watson should prosper with the talent in that room.

If this was last season, Watkins would have been a lock to make the final 53. Just a case of bad timing for the player and the team. There is no question General Manager Andrew Berry, head coach Kevin Stefanski and the coaching staff thought -- and probably argued -- long and hard before the final verdict.

Guessing it came down to Watkins or David Bell for the final spot. Watkins has more natural talent and makes plays. Bell was a very reliable receiver at Purdue, but didn't get many looks in his rookie NFL season. The big difference probably came down to special teams, where Bell excelled last season.

He saw only 35 targets all last season. Caught 24 (69%) for 214 yards and seven first downs. With the arrival of Moore and Goodwin, he might be targeted even less this season. Watkins would have booked plenty of bench time outside of special teams.

Another factor might have been trying to figure out how much Watkins would see the field. Whose reps would he take? Amari Cooper's? Elijah Moore's? Donovan Peoples-Jones'? Cedric Tillman's? Marquise Goodwin's? David Njoku's? Whose?

Showing up as an undrafted free agent just prior to camp, Watkins wowed just about everyone in Berea, taking the Browns by surprise. Capturing the imagination of the fans made the final decision that much tougher to arrive at.

***

That was the only major surprise in the final trims, although I can't believe defensive tackle Jordan Elliott made the final cut. That decision was more like a minor surprise. I'd love to hear the rationale for keeping him for a fourth season.

The Browns selected him in the third round of the 2020 college draft and he's been a huge disappointment. The 6-4, 305 pounder is not the run stuffer the club thought it drafted to neutralize opposing infantry attacks. Only 77 tackles in three seasons, just 35 solo, a mere seven quarterback hits and a teeny 2.5 sacks.

It's also why the Browns brought in Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris as free agents and Siaki Ika via the draft to anchor what has been a perennial weak spot in the Cleveland defense. Took Berry two seasons to figure that one out.

Elliott quite simply is not strong at the point of attack and can be frequently and easily maneuvered out of position. That he lasted this long is semi mind-boggling. Wouldn't be surprised if Berry scours the free-agent market for another defensive tackle in an effort to make Elliott an ex-Brown.

***

Nine rookies (including all seven draft picks) made the final cut, three of them from Ohio State. Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. offensive tackle Dawand Jones and center Luke Wypler join cornerback Denzel Ward to give the Browns four ex-Buckeyes on the team for the first time in memory.

Nice to see linebacker Mohamoud Diabate and Hickman make the final 53. Both are undrafted free agents certain to receive plenty of action on special teams. They also have shown they can be trusted with reps on occasion on defense.

Diabate's size (6-4, 230) and athleticism and innate ability to frequently be in the vicinity of the football fits nicely into defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's world of aggressive football. The fact he's a strong tackler and makes plays should win him some reps.

Hickman flashed early in the exhibition season with three interceptions, two in one game. Stuff like that garners more just a little attention from the coaching staff. He is also a sure tackler.

***

Finally . . . This is not the roster that will suit up for the season opener at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. It will be massaged a bit either through free agency or a trade or two before that game kicks off. . . . Other new faces on offense are quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and wideout Cedric Tillman. On defense, they belong to cornerback Cameron Mitchell, defensive end Isaiah McGuire, Diabate and Ika.