Memorable training camp

Is there any question the Browns' 2023 summer training camp will be remembered mostly as the one that featured two play-making undrafted free agents and a fifth-round rookie quarterback who plays the position like a young veteran? Rhetorical question.

It's rare in training camp to see the likes of linebacker Mahmoud Diabate, wide receiver Austin Jenkins Jr. and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson step right up and let their eye-catching performances introduce themselves to not only the coaching staff, but to Browns Nation as well.

And now after three exhibition games, where the Browns overwhelmed one opponent, underwhelmed another and whelmed the third, Saturday's afternoon's finale in Kansas City will be the final test for Diabate and Jenkins, who most likely will see numerous reps after the starters play for about a quarter.

Both arrived as unknowns trying to make the regular roster with the odds clearly stacked against them. They were late signees considered initially as nothing more than camp fodder.  DTR, by virtue of his draft status, was a lock. His solid performances thus far is a bonus that has excited the fan base.

The other two are on the bubble. Or are they?

Diabate is the kind of lean, mean and quick linebacker who appears to fit perfectly in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's attacking scheme. He also has the knack of showing up near the football quite often. You can't teach that. Tackling also does not seem to be a problem. 

Based on what we've seen in three games, Jenkins deserves to make the final roster on a team that predominantly throws the football. He runs extremely disciplined routes; owns terrific hands; wins a majority of 50-50 balls; and he makes plays in general.  

To calm down the excitement for Diabate and Jenkins, it can be argued neither young man has played against starters on other teams. We have no idea how they would fare. But if you use that as a barometer, there's a chance you might make the wrong move and cut a future starter for some other team. 

It won't be easy for these two to reach their goals. The Browns are stacked at wide receiver with Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Bell and rookie Cedric Tillman with Marquise Goodwin nursing an injury.

Diabate, meanwhile, would bring fresh air to the linebackers room. Returnees Anthony Walker Jr. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Sione Takitaki are coming off surgery, Tony Fields is in his fourth season and Jordan Kunaszyk and Matthew Adams are there for special teams.

It's a gamble General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski will address over the weekend as they descend into the bunker to decide who winds up on the regular 53-man roster by 4 p.m. next Tuesday. 

From this viewpoint, both deserve to be in uniform and contributing when the Browns welcome the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener Sept. 10.

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Funny how things work out just when you think you've made one decision and move on to the next. That's exactly what happened Thursday when Stefanski announced Dobbs would be QB2 behind Watson.

While Stefanski fed the media the news Dobbs was the man, Berry and Arizona GM Monti Ossenfort came to terms on a deal that would send Dobbs and a seventh-round pick to the quarterback-strapped Cardinals for a fifth-rounder.

Kyler Murray is recovering from knee surgery and isn't expected back until early November. Ossenfort needed help with the likes of Colt McCoy, Jeff Driskel and rookie Clayton Tune available. Drew Petzing, his offensive coordinator, was the Browns' quarterbacks coach last season and liked Dobbs.

So the two GMs got what they wanted. Ossenfort a seasoned quarterback and Berry, who loves draft picks, another draft pick. And now everybody's happy, especially Browns fans, as DTR moves up to replace Dobbs.

The end.

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The move was made shortly after Ossenfort swapped productive linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants for a seventh-round pick. Swapped? More like robbery in broad daylight. It was an outright gift. 

I wonder if Berry was aware of Simmons' availability. The 6-4, 240-pounder was the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft and played linebacker for three seasons in Arizona, racking up 258 tackles, including 204 the last two seasons, 138 of them solo.

He asked to be switched back to safety this season, a position he played at Clemson for two years before switching to linebacker in his junior season. He's played a couple of exhibitions this year at safety for the Cards and did not look good. That's when they pulled the plug and shipped him to the Giants.