Browns waive OLB Armonty Bryant upon return from suspension

The Cleveland Browns were succinct in a statement Monday morning, announcing that they have waived OLB Armonty Bryant. Bryant was coming off of a four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

After the Browns had placed OLB Nate Orchard on injured reserve last week, I thought that maybe they were paving the way for Bryant’s return to the roster. Even though Bryant had worked with the defensive line in camp this year, the team labeled him as a linebacker in their post announcing his release, and it’s where he spent most of the 2015 season. Cam Johnson’s two-sack performance could have been a major influence in the Browns keeping him over the returning pass-rusher.

Bryant was a 7th-round draft pick by the Browns in 2013, and the last of the team’s five draft picks from that year to still be on the roster. Now, not a single player from that draft class even got to see the end of their contract in Cleveland. His best season was a year ago, when he logged career highs in tackles (40), sacks (5.5), and forced fumbles (2). We’ll see if a team decides to claim him off waivers, and if nobody does, is it possible that the New England Patriots try to land yet another former Brown?