Browns sign LB Deon King and WR Richard Mullaney, waive DL Nile Lawrence-Stample

I thought the Cleveland Browns might have used their vacant roster spot from waiving safety Tyvis Powell last week on some tryout players at mandatory minicamp this week. Instead, they just signed two players on the eve of minicamp kicking off.

With two players being signed, let’s get the unfortunate news out of the way: the team had to waive another player, and this time that person is DL Nile Lawrence-Stample. An undrafted free agent in 2016, Pro Football Focus thought he was a player who could make an impact stopping the run. But he ended up missing all of camp with a shoulder injury and was stashed on injured reserve. The Browns have added a lot of new talent to the defensive line this offseason, making Lawrence-Stample expendable.

The two new additions to the roster include WR Richard Mullaney and LB Deon King. Mullaney (6-2, 204 lbs) was originally an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in 2016, and he also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys during training camp. He played college football at Oregon State and then Alabama. His presence on the roster might have been needed for additional depth at the position if WR Corey Coleman and WR Kenny Britt continue to sit out practices.

King (6-0, 220 lbs) was an undrafted free agent in 2016, starting out with the Dallas Cowboys before bouncing around to the San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts. He played college football at Norfolk State. He appeared in six games last season, registering two tackles.

We’ll see if either Mullaney or King can stick around through training camp, or if this minicamp will still serve as a form of a tryout for each of them.