Cleveland Browns Sign 11 Undrafted Free Agents, Release 5 Players

Earlier today, we reported that the Cleveland Browns released QB Vince Young. He was just one of five players released, though: the team also parted ways with QB Alex Tanney, RB Fozzy Whittaker, DL Brian Sanford, and DB Brandon Hughes.

Out of all those players, the only one who fans might have had some sentimental ties to is Whittaker. Whittaker had 28 carries for 79 yards (2.8 YPC) last season. He made more of an impact as a receiving back, where he had 21 catches for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also saw more reps at kick return than any other player on the team.

The Browns also announced the signing of 11 undrafted free agents, 10 of whom we caught wind of the other day. Here is a little bit of information about each of the players:

• QB Connor Shaw - South Carolina - 6-1, 210 lbs. - Leading up to the draft, the Browns hosted Shaw for both a visit to Berea and a private workout. I thought there was a chance that Cleveland could draft two quarterbacks, and for all intents and purposes, this is them doing so. Brendan Leister of DraftBrowns.com likes the signing and thinks Shaw could, "develop into a Hoyer-type QB down the road." Projected 7th-round pick, 18th-ranked quarterback.
  
  
• FB Ray Agnew - Southern Illinois - 5-10, 247 lbs. - The Browns had brought FB Kiero Small in for a pre-draft visit to Berea before the draft, but the Seattle Seahawks took him in the seventh round. The Browns signed veteran fullback Chris Pressley a few weeks ago, and this is them giving him a younger fullback to compete with this offseason. Projected UDFA, 15th-ranked fullback.
  
  
• RB Isaiah Crowell - Alabama St. - 5-11, 225 lbs. - I bet the Browns weren't expecting this guy to be available in free agency! Crowell was graded by CBS Sports' Dane Brugler as a 4th-round prospect, and the 7th-best running back in the draft class. Character issues might be the reason for him not being drafted, but that can be to Cleveland's advantage:
  
  "Crowell is arguably the most gifted RB in this draft class with the NFL talent to be an impact starter and be as good as he wants, but needs to develop a professional demeanor, keep his nose clean and come to work every day with the same drive – draft projection and NFL future depends on the baggage and maturity, but the talent is there for him to quickly become an impact NFL player." -Brugler
  
  
  Crowell received a $10,000 bonus to sign with the Browns, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Projected 4th-round pick, 7th-ranked running back.
  
  
  
• WR Chandler Jones - San Jose St. - 5-9, 185 lbs. - The Browns had reportedly shown some interest in Jones back at the East-West Shrine game, and he was projected to be a 6th- or 7th-round pick. Jones is certainly a speed demon, registering a 40-time or 4.34, which was second only to WR Brandin Cooks among the known receivers in the draft class. Projected 6th-round pick, 34th-ranked receiver.
  
  
• WR Willie Snead - Ball State - 5-11, 195 lbs. - The greatest receiver in Ball State history, per our SB Nation affiliate. Martin Rickman says, "All Snead did was make plays at Ball State, so Browns fans not familiar with the MAC -- don't be surprised if he makes the final 53." Cleveland grabbed an impressive bunch of receivers in the undrafted free agent class. Projected UDFA, 62nd-ranked receiver.
  
  
• WR Kenny Shaw - Florida St. - 5-11, 180 lbs. - He also handled punt return duties in college. According to DraftInsider, Shaw "comes back to the ball to make himself an available target, nicely adjusts to errant throws, and pulls the pass from the air with his hands" and is "quick, elusive, and effective running after the catch." The downside is that he lacks any real physicality and struggles to get off jams. Projected UDFA, 74th-ranked receiver.
  
  
• WR Jonathan Krause - Vanderbilt - 5-11, 190 lbs. - The Browns didn't get WR Jordan Matthews, so they signed the other Vanderbilt product in Krause. Assuming the Browns scouted Matthews, you have to wonder if they also looked at Krause while they were at it, and that's the reason they give him a shot? Although he wasn't ranked high by Brugler, it sounds like enough people were interested in him, as Aaron Wilson reported that the Browns gave him a $10,000 bonus to sign with them. Projected UDFA, 134th-ranked receiver.
  

  Browns UDFA Jonathan Krause from Vandy ran a 4.37, 37.5 vert, 10'8" at pro day. Quick change of direction. Can return kicks, 17 YPC last yr

  — Justin Higdon (@afc2nfc) May 11, 2014

  
  
• OT Anthony Dima - Massachusetts - 6-6, 295 lbs. - His name certainly reminds me of Anthony Lima of 92.3 the Fan every time I read it. Our friends at Hustle Belt said the following about Dima, who played left tackle for them:
  
  "Dima has a fantastic frame for an NFL tackle, but can use some bulking up to cross the 300-pound plateau. He's not exceptionally fast, or agile, but he's a bull of tackle who benched 225 pounds 31 times at his Pro Day". Projected UDFA, 51st-ranked offensive tackle.
  
  
• OT Michael Philipp - Oregon St. - 6-4, 316 lbs. - Our friends at Building the Dam had the following to say about Philipp: "Phillip was a starter throughout his career, except his redshirt season, which was not his first year, with 48 starts as a Beaver. It's a little surprising that Philipp's signing was delayed as long as it was, given that linemen of his size and experience aren't that plentiful." Projected UDFA, unranked.
  
  
• DT Calvin Barnett - Oklahoma St. - 6-2, 317 lbs. - The big-bodied Barnett comes from Oklahoma State, the same college as the No. 8 overall pick of the draft, CB Justin Gilbert. DraftInsider.net calls him, "a hard worker with marginal physical skills and playmaking ability for the next level." Projected UDFA, 34th-ranked defensive tackle.
  
  
• S Darwin Cook - West Virginia - 5-11, 195 lbs.- He hails...FROM CLEVELAND, OH! Cook was the only prospect who we did not have on our list from Saturday. He attended Shaw High School, and the Plain Dealer featured him in an article this past March. DraftInsider.net says that he, "is a solid defensive back who shows skill in all areas of the game" and is "tough defending the run and possesses better than average ball skills." Projected UDFA, 37th-ranked safety.

The Browns did not confirm which rookies received an invite to rookie minicamp. Based on the the reports from the weekend, we are going to say that the following players *may* have been invited to camp. The Browns entered the draft with 75 players, drafted 6 (to go up to 81 players), signed 11 UDFA's (to go to 92 players), and then parted ways with 5 players (to get back to 87 players). Therefore, Cleveland should have 3 open roster spots that these guys might be fighting for:

Players Potentially Invited to a Tryout at Minicamp

• QB Corey Robinson - Troy - 6-1, 215 lbs. (Source)
• RB Jourdan Brooks (note: he was a UDFA two years ago)
• WR Gerald Ford - Valdosta State - 6-3, 225 lbs. (Source)
• WR Taylor Gabriel - Abilene Christian - 5-9, 190 lbs. (Source)
• TE Zane Fakes - Ball State - 6-3, 235 lbs. (Source)
• TE Blake Jackson - Oklahoma St. - 6-3, 235 lbs. - (Source)
• DT Jaccobi McDaniel - Florida St. - 6-1, 300 lbs. (Source)
• DT Antonio Gillespie - Troy - 6-1, 297 lbs. (Source)
  
• ILB Carlo Calabrese - Notre Dame - 6-1, 245 lbs. (Source)
• ILB Greg Blair - Cincinnati - 6-1, 255 lbs. (Source)
• OLB Alex Bazzie - Marshall - 6-2, 244 lbs. (Source)
• CB K'Waun Williams - Pittsburgh - 5-10, 190 lbs. (Source)
• S Jacques Washington - Iowa St. - 6-1, 220 lbs. (Source)
• S Nickoe Whitley - Mississippi St. - 5-11, 205 lbs. (Source)
• S Robert Nelson - Arizona St. - 5-10, 175 lbs. (Source)
• S Jason Hendricks - Pittsburgh - 6-0, 185 lbs. (Source)