Browns Players To Keep An Eye On In Training Camp

Cleveland Browns training camp is now upon us. With rookies reporting on July 18 and veterans reporting four days later, the 2025 NFL season is just about here.

Like every other team, 90 men enter training camp but only 53 will leave with a roster spot and 16 with a practice squad spot. That said, there are always names to watch in training camp that may go under the radar or are buried underneath bigger stories.

Who are they? Let’s take a look.

 

Luke Floriea, WR

Heading into rookie minicamp, it’s safe to say, unless you followed Kent State football, you probably didn’t know who Luke Floriea was.

Following minicamp, everyone was clamoring for him to be signed. Drawing comparisons to his fellow Golden Flashes alumni, Julian Edelman, Floriea demonstrated consistency in getting open and catching the ball through minicamp and OTA’s.

If this continues during padded practices as well as the preseason games, he could sneak onto the 53-man roster.

 

Ronnie Hickman, Safety

Going into his third season, Ronnie Hickman has made occasional starts. In those seasons, he recorded a 74.1 overall Pro Football Focus grade in 2023 and a 77.2 grade last season.

Now Hickman has the chance to earn the starting free safety job. Veteran names like Damontae Kazee and Rayshawn Jenkins will make Hickman feel pressure but having familiarity with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s system and play-style could give him an edge.

It will be up to him to take that next step in his development.

 

Sal Cannella, TE

Most teams don’t talk about their third tight end but Cleveland isn’t most teams. Since Kevin Stefanski took over as head coach in 2020, they’ve featured tight ends heavily on their depth chart.

David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. solidified their spots but after them, it’s a three-person race. Sal Cannella showed he can be a valuable piece, even if just for competition sake.

In 2024, he led in receiving touchdowns and last year, he was sixth in receiving yards, while still being a good blocker. He’ll have to show out to beat Blake Whiteheart, but at the end of the day, the 2025 All-UFL tight end may be able to do it.

 

Dillon Gabriel, QB

All eyes have been on every other quarterback in the room. Fans are excited for the return of Joe Flacco, Cleveland was linked to Kenny Pickett during the 2022 NFL Draft and Shedeur Sanders has been a lightning rod of attention.

However, one guy that’s being overlooked is third-round pick Dillon Gabriel.

Whether it’s because of his size or likelihood of going with a shorter pass than deep ball, Gabriel hasn’t been the sexiest name on the depth chart. That said, Gabriel was one of the most experienced and smarter quarterbacks available in this year’s draft.

Stefanski has done well with quarterbacks who optioned for short-to-medium over home run ball guys (Case Keenum, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, etc.). Is Gabriel the future of this team? Most likely not, but he’s not someone to rule out immediately.