CLEVELAND — NFL teams were required to trim their rosters to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
That, however, doesn't mean that each team's roster is set.
With every team having released several players to meet the regular season roster limit, the league's waiver wire is now full of players who other teams might be interested in. That includes the Cleveland Browns, who figure to be one of the league's more active teams leading up to the first waiver wire period at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
With that in mind, here are five players the Browns could be interested in acquiring following the roster cuts that took place on Tuesday:
O.J. Howard, tight end
Perhaps the most notable name to be released on Tuesday was O.J. Howard, who spent this preseason with the Buffalo Bills. Cleveland, meanwhile, is currently only carrying two tight ends on its roster -- David Njoku and Harrison Bryant -- which is curious considering head coach Kevin Stefanski's propensity for highlighting the position.
When it comes to adding a third tight end, the Browns could certainly do worse than Howard, a 2017 first-round pick, who despite inconsistent statistics, is one of the most physically impressive tight ends in the league. It's worth noting that Cleveland won't be able to simply claim him off waivers, however, as the Alabama product is a free agent and able to sign with any team he chooses.
Tyler Johnson, wide receiver
Another surprise cut, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers opted to release wide receiver Tyler Johnson, who they selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. While the 24-year-old was buried on a deep Tampa Bay depth chart, he has shown flashes of being a capable NFL receiver and is coming off a preseason in which he totaled 11 catches for 133 yards in three games.
As for Cleveland, wide receiver clearly stands out as one of the team's top remaining needs. The Browns are currently entering the season without a proven player at the position behind veteran Amari Cooper and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them take a flier on the 6-foot-1 Johnson.
Preston Williams, wide receiver
Preston Williams doesn't possess the type of athleticism the Browns front office typically covets, but he showed signs of being a productive receiver during his first three seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Plus, his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame would bring a new dynamic that Cleveland's receiving corps currently lacks.
Jay Tufele, defensive tackle
In addition to wide receiver, defensive tackle currently stands out as one of the Browns' biggest needs. A 2021 fourth-round pick, Jay Tufele showed promise as a pass rusher in limited opportunities during his rookie season, providing him with a potential skill set that would be attractive to Cleveland's front office.
Lynn Bowden Jr., wide receiver
The Browns' front office is also looking for athleticism, and Lynn Bowden Jr. possesses plenty of it. What's more is that the Youngstown native has the ability to play multiple positions, including wide receiver, running back, slot receiver and kick returner.
The idea of adding a "gadget" player like Bowden could certainly be intriguing for Cleveland after Jakeem Grant Sr. suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. At this point, it's likely a question of whether the Browns would want to stick with Demetric Felton in that role or take a flier on the 2020 third-round pick.