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3 Under-the-Radar Browns Players to Watch Ahead of 2026 Season
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- 3 Under-the-Radar Browns Players to Watch Ahead of 2026 Season
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Most of the NFL conversations revolve around the games' biggest stars and the Cleveland Browns are no different. Guys like Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Shedeur Sanders tend to steal the spotlight, but there are plenty of others who contribute to winning on a regular basis.
This offseason has seen GM Andrew Berry overhaul the roster in some key areas, particularly on offense, where some key position battles are set to take place. That extends across the roster, though, on defense and special teams.
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In the coming weeks and months, new head coach Todd Monken will be working towards finalizing an official depth chart ahead of the regular season. The pecking order for some of those groups is more obvious than others, but there are plenty of players who have flown under the radar to this point and figure to have more prominent roles that fans may realize.
There are the top three players who fall into that category.
1) Dylan Sampson, RB
In a season condensed by a legal situation off the field and an unfortunate fibula fracture and dislocated ankle in Week 16, Quinshon Judkins was one of the lone bright spots in Cleveland's offense last season.
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He's the workhorse of the running back room and put together a promising rookie campaign and excitement around his future has left Sampson as more of an afterthought.
The Tennessee product obviously isn't the bruising, powerful runner that Quinshon tends to be, but provides a different look for Cleveland as more of a pass-catching back. Sampson flashed that last year by hauling in 33 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
His ability to line up all over the formation is something Monken can really take advantage of, considering his propensity to deploy a variety of personnel grouping. The fact that the Browns didn't invest in adding to the running back room this offseason feels like a vote of confidence in Sampson as someone who can contribute as the No. 2 back.
2) Myles Harden, CB
Another position group the Browns didn't specifically go out and add to was the cornerback room. It paves the way for Harden to be the first guy up in the nickel corner role.
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That's the spot Harden spent the majority of his time in 2025 and did a solid job at that. It's unlikely to be a full-time thing for him, though, considering Cleveland used multiple players at the nickel spot last year.
That rotation included free safety Ronnie Hickman, who is back after being retained as a restricted free agent. It could also include rookie safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren who the Browns drafted in the second-round a couple weeks back.
Either way, Harden gained enough trust that GM Andrew Berry didn't feel nickel CB was a pressing need this offseason. He'll have an opportunity to prove Berry right in the coming months.
3) Parker Brailsford, C
Berry spent most of the team's offensive resources fixing the o-line but there's one spot that remains unclear that this point at the center position. It could just be Elgton Jenkins, who played center for the Green Bay Packers last year, but was a Pro Bowler at guard in years prior.
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Monken has said he'd love to see Jenkins return to guard, but that will take someone really standing out to win the job. Enter Brailsford, who is a bit undersized for a center, but possesses a wealth of athleticism that should translate to the next level.
If he can add some muscle and get up to speed quickly, there's a chance he emerges as the team's starting center. Because he's a fifth-round pick, there aren't any major expectations for the Alabama product, but the competition at center will be worth monitoring.
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