Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Browns fans and fans across the country.
The Cleveland Browns faced several difficult decisions as they trimmed their roster down to 53 players. Every season, the organization makes a few decisions that catch fans by surprise. Which selections at this year’s deadline were particularly surprising?
Taylen Green was far from a lock to make the roster throughout the summer. As training
camp came to a close and Green took some snaps in the preseason, he proved to the front office and coaching staff that he deserved a roster spot.
Dillon Gabriel was questionable to make the roster because of the fact that keeping four quarterbacks seemed like a bit too much. After a strong third preseason performance, the belief was that the Browns would either find a trade partner for Gabriel, or that he’d make the final roster outright. Instead, a curveball was thrown when he landed on injured reserve with a “back injury.”
Luke Floriea not making the 53-man roster was a bit of a surprise, but it is an even bigger surprise that the team does not intend to bring him back to the practice squad. The wide receiver group was certainly more competitive this season, so it was going to be tough for Floriea to make it in that group. Most felt Floriea did enough during the preseason to earn a spot with the team in some capacity, making the decision not to add him to the practice squad all the more surprising.
KT Leveston did not make Cleveland’s roster, a decision that may have surprised some given that he appeared in 16 games for the team last season. He struggled significantly in 2025 and again during this year’s preseason, ultimately leaving him on the outside looking in.
Our Reacts question below asks you which of the four decisions above was the biggest surprise surrounding the Browns’ roster.
Let us know what you think in the comments – What was the Browns’ most surprising roster decision?
