Will This Standout Undrafted Rookie Make the Browns Roster?
The Kevin Stefanski era was notoriously unfriendly to undrafted rookies at its onset. Though not a single undrafted rookie made the team during his first several years, the Browns have seemingly changed their tune of late. The likes of D’Anthony Bell, Ronnie Hickman, and Mohamoud Diabate have all emerged as key rotational pieces at various times in recent seasons after latching on in Cleveland as undrafted free agents. As the Browns enter an apparent rebuilding year ahead of 2025, the window for undrafted standouts to make an immediate impact looks to be as open as ever.
Enter wide receiver Luke Floriea. The 23-year-old Kent State product has continued to make noise since entering Berea for rookie minicamp this spring. His play successfully turned a mere camp invite into a contract, setting up a chance to compete for a 53-man roster spot this summer. Though Floriea has endeared himself with Browns fans on social media through his frequent highlight-worthy grabs, his path to remaining on the active roster following cutdown day remains hazy.
Just one undrafted player has made the 53-man roster as a rookie on the offensive side of the ball since Kevin Stefanski took the helm of the Cleveland Browns: Javion Cohen, an offensive guard who made the team this past season. Unlike the situation Cohen faced a year ago, the Browns are not desperately craving depth at the wide receiver position. That said, there is far less certainty at the position this year than in those prior. Beyond Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, there are no players who necessarily stand out as roster locks. There is, however, a large group comprising a tier of players who appear more likely than Floriea to make the 53-man roster. This group includes veteran Diontae Johnson, a former Pro Bowler looking to revive his career in Cleveland, Jamari Thrash, a fifth-round pick a year ago, De’Andre Carter, a veteran the Browns gave guaranteed money to this offseason, as well as former draft picks David Bell and Michael Woods.
Such fluidity certainly creates the possibility for Floriea to be a member of the 53-man roster come September, though there are numerous more proven players standing in his way. However, while more seasoned, each of the aforementioned wide receivers will need to earn their roster spot this offseason. If Floriea can continue to shine as he has to this point, he may very well challenge one of the more senior players for their roster spot.
Each undrafted player who enters the NFL faces exceedingly low odds of making a roster, particularly in their rookie year. Floriea is no exception, perhaps rendering the practice squad a more realistic goal. However, given the overall lack of certainty at wide receiver in Cleveland as well as the Kent State product’s stellar play to this point in the summer, all possibilities remain in play. A local talent who starred at Mentor High School, a juggernaut program in the Cleveland area, Floriea is on the precipice of putting together a remarkable feel-good story.
