Cleveland Browns introduce their first-round draft picks, Johnny Manziel and Justin Gilbert

In 2014, the Browns drafted Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel in the first-round. Both are no longer with the team.

(John Kuntz / cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my Browns notebook as the roster cuts are made:

1. Pittsburgh must have thought the Browns had another team interested in Justin Gilbert, or at least the Browns made them believe that was the case. Either way, it's a nice move securing a 2018 sixth-round pick for Gilbert, because I'm very sure the Browns were going to cut him. Maybe the Steelers will squeeze something out of Gilbert. Maybe he needs a fresh start. But I doubt it.



2. The Hue Jackson coaching staff gave Gilbert a fresh start. He often worked with the starters. Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton mentioned one of his goals was to turn the No. 8 pick in the 2014 draft into a viable player. He had an open door to playing here, but failed to seize the opportunity.



3. Before the Gilbert deal, the last time the Browns traded with the Steelers was in 2013. They sent a fourth-round pick (who became Shamarko Thomas) for a 2014 third-rounder. Thomas is a backup defensive back with the Steelers. What happened to that third-round pick in 2014? The Browns used it to trade up for Johnny Manziel...sigh.



4. The Andy Lee trade to Carolina for a fourth-rounder in 2018 looks even better right now. That was the highest draft pick traded for a punter since 1994. Then the Browns signed veteran punter Britton Colquitt, who was a salary cap cut in Denver. He's not an elite punter in the class of Lee, but he's solid.



5. The Browns had six first-round picks between 2011 and 2014. Here's where they are now: Phil Taylor (2011, out of football); Trent Richardson (2012, out of football); Brandon Weeden (2012, backup QB in Houston); Barkevious Mingo (backup linebacker in New England), Johnny Manziel (out of football) and Gilbert (traded to Pittsburgh). So 3-of-6 are out of football, and the other three are not starters. None are with the Browns. Yikes!



6. The Browns have only two players left from the six players picked in 2014: Joel Bitonio and Chris Kirksey, both starters. Terrance West was in that draft. He has made the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns cut fourth-rounder Pierre Desir. The others were first rounders Manziel and Gilbert.



7. The Browns kept all 14 of their draft choices, but that's temporary. I expect a few of them to end up on the practice squad. The Browns intend to claim some players on waivers. They have 16 total rookies on the roster right now.



8. The only full-time center on the roster in Cameron Erving. Veteran John Greco played some center in the past, but he starts at right guard. The Browns are hoping to claim a center cut by another team.



9. The Browns cut center Mike Matthews, son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews. I do wonder if he might appear on the practice squad.



10. I was more surprised by the Browns cutting Marlon Moore (excellent on special teams) than mini-receiver Taylor Gabriel. When I heard the Browns planned to keep veteran Andrew Hawkins (another small receiver), it seemed doubtful they'd also have Gabriel. Not with four wide receivers drafted.



11. When it comes to the rookie wide receivers, I was hoping to see more -- from all of them. First-rounder Corey Coleman had a hamstring injury and played only the last two preseason games. He looked raw and rusty.



12. Fourth-rounder Ricardo Louis played in the opener against Green Bay. He made some good plays on special teams. Then he was injured (hamstring) for the rest of camp. He's on the roster now, and at the very least, he'll end up on the practice squad. The Browns like his long-range potential.



13. Fifth-rounder Rashard Higgins led all the rookies with four preseason receptions. Jordan Payton caught two passes for 13 total yards. I still like Higgins, but wished he had been on the field more often in the preseason.



14. I have a hard time believing rookie Trey Caldwell will end up on the 53-man roster. He is there now, but missed all the preseason games with a hamstring pull. It appears the fifth-rounder would eventually be headed to the practice squad.



15. In 2014-15, the Browns drafted five defensive backs. The only one still with the team is safety Ibraheim Campbell, who is expected to start at safety. The other four from those drafts: Charles Gaines (cut), Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (cut), Desir (cut) and Gilbert (traded).









