Browns waive former third-round WR pick

The Browns have used three third-round picks on wide receivers under GM Andrew Berry. Two of them are now off the roster.

Elected in the third round in 2022, David Bell was named to Cleveland’s starting 53-man roster, but the team informed the Purdue player on Thursday that would be repealedWhile the Browns could bring Bell back via a practice squad deal, the former 99th overall pick would first have to clear waivers.

Bell arrived in Cleveland between Anthony Schwarz (2020) and Cedric Tillman (2023) a third-round investment. The Browns moved on from Schwartz last September. Tillman remains on Cleveland’s 53-man roster, which currently has five receivers. Behind the starters Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore, Tillman and a rookie fifth-round draft pick Jamari Thrash remains. The Browns already have four receivers (Michael Woods, James Proche and Lideatrick Griffin and Jaelon Darden) on the practice squad.

One of Aidan O’Connell’s Purdue target, Bell was unable to make much of an impact with the Browns. He threw three touchdowns last season but finished the year with 14 receptions for 167 yards in 15 games. A two-time 1,000-yard receiver with the Boilermakers, Bell amassed 214 yards as a rookie.

Cleveland’s receiver room currently features three traded additions and two homegrown players. Bell’s cut comes less than a year after the team traded away Donovan Peoples-Jones, a sixth-round pick in 2020, in his contract year. Teams have until Friday afternoon to claim Bell, who has two years remaining on his rookie contract.