The Cleveland Browns agreed to terms with just eight undrafted free agents following the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft. It represents one of the smaller classes of UDFAs around the league. Former Alabama and Miami offensive guard Javion Cohen should have the best opportunity to compete for a spot on the Browns' initial 53-man roster.
Cohen was a projected draft pick after he put forth an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl. Browns general manager Andrew Berry aggressively pursued Cohen’s signature as a UDFA. The Browns signed Cohen to a deal that contained $200,000 in salary guarantees, according to Spotrac, making him one of the higher-paid UDFAs. The Browns were the lone team to formally interview Cohen at the NFL Combine, sources told The Draft Network. Berry’s interest in Cohen was consistent throughout the process. For Cohen, he decided to sign with the organization that showed the most interest in his services.
Pro Football Focus credited Cohen with allowing one sack in 43 appearances. It represents the lone quarterback takedown accredited to Cohen via 1,332 career pass-blocking snaps across his four seasons in college.
Cohen possesses exciting measurements for the position. The former Hurricanes standout clears 6-foot-4 and weighs a 79th-percentile 324 pounds. Cohen is a powerful, lengthy interior blocker with 80th-percentile arm length (34 inches). Lower-body athleticism is also present—Cohen had a 104-inch broad jump.
The Browns tout one of the NFL's top starting guard tandems with Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, but the depth behind their clear-cut starters has become an annual question. Bitonio missed a pair of games with injury this past season. The Browns drafted former Michigan blocker Zak Zinter in the third round and he projects as Cleveland's No. 3 guard due to the draft capital (85th overall) invested in him. Zinter was a healthy participant at rookie minicamp after suffering a season-ending leg injury in a late November victory over Ohio State.
While Zinter appears healthy enough to claim immediate backup duties, I like Cohen's chances of claiming the fourth guard spot in training camp. His competition includes veteran journeymen Michael Dunn and Germain Ifedi.
Dunn is a 29-year-old blocker who joined the Browns in 2020 after stints in the AAF and XFL. While Dunn's story has been inspiring, it could be time for the Browns to use that roster spot on a younger, more ascending player. Ifedi played eight total offensive snaps across 2022 and 2023. The last time he played meaningful snaps, he was a fill-in at right tackle for the Chicago Bears. I don’t see Ifedi preventing Cohen from making Cleveland’s roster.
It's tough to grasp how a four-year impressive starter at two major programs went undrafted. Cohen is a proven blocker with the skill set and measurements necessary to capture a role for himself at the next level. The Browns will provide Cohen with an opportunity to make their 53-man roster.
