Todd Monken took time during a recent appearance on 92.3 The Fan to spotlight several depth players who have caught his attention throughout training camp, offering praise for contributors who have not necessarily generated the same headlines as the ongoing quarterback competition. One name in particular stood out in Monken’s breakdown, an undrafted rookie cornerback who has quietly built a reputation for showing up and making plays on a near-daily basis throughout the entire summer.
Monken offered detailed praise for Michael Coats Jr. and several other depth pieces who have earned his respect through consistent effort and production.
“I really thought Michael Coats on defense. He has just shown up every day at practice and made plays. Usually, that translates to making plays on game day. The greatest predictor of the future is the past, which is him doing that. That was fun to watch him play. It was fun to get Dylan Sampson an opportunity in space to do something with the ball in his hands. Austin Barber, we’re asking a lot of him. Turned right tackle, now, he’s kind of playing some guard. All he’s done is just practice. Hasn’t missed anything. Been out there every day. To me, that’s been impressive. It’s not easy to play offensive line. To see young players play the way they have is impressive.”
"I really thought Michael Coats on defense. He has just shown up every day at practice and made plays. That was fun to watch him play. It was fun to get Dylan Sampson an opportunity in space to do something with the ball in his hands. Austin Barber, we're asking a lot of him."… pic.twitter.com/IEdoMBa5ay
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 18, 2026
Coats, an undrafted cornerback out of West Virginia, earned a spot on Pro Football Focus’ rookie team of the week following an interception during Cleveland’s preseason opener against Chicago.
The praise for Dylan Sampson lines up with recent reporting detailing just how heavily involved he has become in Cleveland’s passing game, with Monken previously describing him as electric with the ball in his hands during a separate press conference earlier this week. Getting him consistent opportunities in space appears to be a priority for the coaching staff.
Barber has moved from right tackle to right guard as part of Cleveland’s ongoing search for the best possible combination up front. Despite that positional uncertainty and the increased responsibility that comes with learning multiple spots, Monken specifically praised Barber’s reliability throughout camp, a trait that matters significantly for a young offensive lineman still working to establish himself on a crowded and competitive roster.
Browns fans have several names worth watching closely as Cleveland’s roster picture continues coming into focus ahead of final cuts.
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