Andre Szmyt (pronounced: Schmitt) becomes the eighth kicker in six years of the Kevin Stefanski-Andrew Berry era. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns initial cutdown to 53 players:
To reach the roster limit of 53 the Browns:
* Announced defensive tackle Mike Hall passed a physical.
* Placed linebacker Winston Reid on injured reserve/designated for return.
* Placed quarterback Deshaun Watson on reserve/physically unable to perform.
* Placed receiver David Bell on reserve/non-football injury.
* Terminated the contracts of kicker Dustin Hopkins, receiver Diontae Johnson, defensive tackle Sam Kamara, defensive end Julian Okwara, running back Treyveon Williams.
* Waived receiver Chase Cota, receiver Kaden Davis, safety Christopher Edmonds, cornerback LaMareon James, receiver Kisean Johnson, running back Ahmani Marshall, receiver Cade McDonald (injury designation), running back Pierre Strong (injury designation), offensive tackle Kilian Zierer.
* Traded for offensive tackle KT Leveston.
Which leaves the initial 53 roster as such:
Quarterbacks (3): Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel (r), Shedeur Sanders (r).
Running backs (2): Jerome Ford, Dylan Sampson (r).
Receivers (6): Isaiah Bond (r), DeAndre Carter, Jerry Jeudy, Gage Larvadain (r), Jamari Thrash, Cedric Tillman.
Tight ends (4): Brenden Bates, Harold Fannin (r), David Njoku, Blake Whiteheart.
Offensive linemen (10): Joel Bitonio, Jack Conklin, Teven Jenkins, Dawand Jones, KT Leveston, Cornelius Lucas, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Luke Wypler, Zak Zinter.
Defensive linemen (10): Maliek Collins, Myles Garrett, Mason Graham (r), Mike Hall, Shelby Harris, Adin Huntington (r), Isaiah McGuire, Cameron Thomas, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Alex Wright.
Linebackers (5): Jerome Baker, Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (r), Carson Schwesinger (r).
Cornerbacks (5): Myles Harden, Dom Jones (r), Cameron Mitchell, Greg Newsome, Denzel Ward.
Safeties (5): Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Rayshawn Jenkins, Damontae Kazee, Donovan McMillon (r).
Specialists (3): Corey Bojorquez, Rex Sunahara, Andre Szmyt.
Szmyt happens
Szmyt (pronounced: Schmitt) is the eighth kicker in the six years of the Kevin Stefanski-Andrew Berry era. He replaces Hopkins, whose fabulous 2023 season was followed by the worst of his 10-year career in 2024.
When Hopkins couldn’t shake the yips this summer (4 of 6 on PATs, and a near-miss of a 28-yard field goal), it became obvious a change would occur. But Szmyt didn’t lock up the job until the final play of the preseason. He nailed a 37-yard field goal against the Rams to preserve the Browns’ 3-0 preseason record.
Stefanski set up the pressure situation by replacing Sanders with Tyler Huntley at quarterback for a final drive in the last 2 minutes.
“He really won that job by being very consistent,” the coach said, before adding, “it’s hard to replicate a game winner … those are moments in football games where you want to come through for your team and Andre did.”
Szmyt, 26, never kicked in even an NFL preseason game until this summer. He was waived by the Bears in the 2023 training camp, spent some time last year on the Browns’ practice squad and kicked one season with St. Louis of the United Football League. He is Syracuse’s all-time record-holder with an 81% mark (85 of 105) on field goals in five college seasons.
“I think there’s a lot of emotion that goes into it,” he said of the last 48 hours. “There’s so much uncertainty in the NFL. I’m super grateful just to be here. I’m gonna take advantage of every opportunity I get and put my best foot forward.”
Szmyt’s next task is to pick a new number. He wore No. 47 in training camp.
A two-way terror
Defensive tackle Adin Huntington was an under-radar undrafted free agent playing and practicing well from the start of camp. He burst out of anonymity when he began the Rams game lining up as blocking fullback and then recorded 1.5 sacks and forced a fumble in 27 snaps. He led the defense with 2.5 sacks in preseason.
An athletic freak (6-1, 290 pounds), he posted an insane 38 in. vertical jump and 4.64 40 time at Tulane’s pro day. He also played at Kent State (2020-22) and Louisiana-Monroe (2023).
“I think the big thing for me is just playing with a relentless effort,” he said. “That's what stands out. I mean, I'm 290 pounds, I ran a 4.6, but just the ability to showcase it … it doesn't … I just can't do that one play I gotta do that every play, so my process into that is making sure I'm conditioned.”
Huntington said his mom “was hysterical … she was crying,” when he told her he made the team.
“You know, my journey doesn't stop right now just because I made the 53-man roster, it's just beginning. So whatever I did to get here, I have to continue to do that,” he said.
Gage the Rage
Larvadain, undrafted from South Carolina, via Miami (Ohio) and Southeastern Louisiana, was among the extra receivers the Browns signed to run routes for the bloated four-quarterback "competition" going back to minicamp.
He was impressive from the start and wound up co-leading the Browns in preseason with nine receptions, including the touchdown catch to complete Dillon Gabriel’s 2-minute drive vs. the Rams.
“It’s surreal … a dream come true, for sure,” he said. “My journey is my journey, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I've enjoyed every moment of it. Obviously, it's a little easier to say it now that we know that I made a team. But regardless of the outcome, I showed up every day and tried as hard as I could. So regardless of the outcome, I think I would have been at bay, regardless.”
He said his favorite part of making the team was “my teammates … they make it so easy to just wake up and to want to play football every day.”
Mini takeaways …
Stefanski confirmed that after the trade of Kenny Pickett to the Raiders, Gabriel would enter the season as QB2 behind starter Joe Flacco. His textbook 2-minute drive vs. the Rams solidified the Browns’ thinking. “I think you factor in everything,” Stefanski said. “You look at it from a bunch of different angles. So certainly, we made the decision and feel comfortable with Dillon serving that role.” He added, “He’s certainly somebody that we think is getting better and better.” …
The bottom of the roster surely will change, with waived players being claimed by noon on Wednesday. But for now, six undrafted rookies made the initial 53 in addition to six drafted rookies. The 12 rookies are the result of a concerted effort by Berry to inject youth – and rookie salaries – into the team …
That number will increase by one when second-round running back Quinshon Judkins finally is signed and rejoins the team. A settlement reportedly is in the works between the players union and the NFL that could result in a suspension for violations of the personal conduct policy. So while only two running backs were kept, that will go up with Judkins and probably another big back claimed off waivers …
Berry is in the process of building the team’s 16-player practice squad. No doubt, several players who didn’t make the 53 cut will be invited to the practice squad.