Former Browns claimed: Dolphins add K Cody Parkey, 49ers get DL Xavier Cooper

Out of all the Cleveland Browns players who were waived on Friday and Saturday, two of them were fortunate enough to be among the 44 players claimed by NFL teams on Sunday: kicker Cody Parkey (Dolphins) and defensive tackle Xavier Cooper (49ers).

K Cody Parkey (Dolphins)

The Miami Dolphins claimed Parkey to be their new kicker. Andrew Franks has been the Dolphins' kicker the past two years, but has only made 78.4% of his kicks. Although he made a 56-yarder this preseason, there were also some concerns about his leg. While it’s possible that Miami will keep two kickers, it seems more likely that Franks will be cut soon, with Parkey becoming their new kicker.

It’s a little funny that Miami is the team that claimed Parkey. If you recall, when Cleveland signed Parkey in an emergency last year, his first game was in Miami, where he missed 3-of-6 field goals. He rebounded and had a respectable season for the Browns, and did a perfectly fine job in this year’s camp too. However, Cleveland had drafted Zane Gonzalez in the 7th round, and he had a little stronger leg and wasn’t having a bad camp either, so he won the competition.

Xavier Cooper (49ers)

A third-round pick by the Browns in 2015, Cooper never quite reached his pass-rushing potential and was receiving second- to third-string reps all preseason. In 27 games as mostly a reserve, he combined for 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Perhaps the 49ers will be able to get more out of him than Cleveland could have, but his release would not a surprise given all the talent the Browns had producing this camp.