The Cleveland Browns added to their secondary, but it came at the cost of a tight end.
The Browns announced on Saturday that they have signed undrafted free agent cornerback Michael Coats and waived tight end Sal Cannella. Coats played 56 career games across four schools during his college career, including East Central Community College, Nevada and West Virginia. In his senior season with the Mountaineers, he started all 12 games at cornerback, recording 30 tackles, seven passes defensed and one fumble recovery. The Browns said he will wear No. 39.
Cannella, 29, signed a reserve/future contract with Cleveland in January after appearing in the team’s final two games of the 2025 season. He was elevated from the practice squad for both contests, playing 35 total snaps — 29 offensive and six on special teams — and catching two passes for 11 yards on five targets.
Cannella took a long road to the NFL, playing for the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL, and the Arlington Renegades of the XFL/UFL. He spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before landing in Cleveland.
Browns Have Young TE Group Headlined by Harold Fannin Jr.
The Browns’ tight end room now belongs almost entirely to the youngins. Harold Fannin Jr. is the unquestioned top option after a standout rookie season in 2025, when he caught 72 passes for 731 yards and six touchdowns — the seventh-most receptions ever recorded by a rookie tight end.
The Browns drafted multiple tight ends, selecting Cincinnati’s Joe Royer in the fifth round (No. 170 overall) and BYU’s Carsen Ryan in the seventh (No. 248).
“Joe has size, really good hands. He is a player that can produce both in the Y, which is kind of your traditional inline role, and the F role, which is a little bit more of a receiving role,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said after selecting Royer. “So to have that flexibility in the room is helpful and important. So he was the guy that we liked, we felt was there for the value and we’re happy to add him to the team.”
Cleveland also added veteran Jack Stoll in free agency, although he has a reputation as more of a blocker. He has just 28 catches over five NFL seasons. The Browns did not bring back David Njoku, who remains unsigned.
Browns Needed Cornerback Depth
The Browns have two solid starting cornerbacks in Pro Bowler Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell, who arrived via trade last season. Cleveland does not have much depth behind them, with Anthony Kendall, Nate Evans, Dom Jones and D’Angelo Ross competing for playing time.
The Browns have spent the bulk of free agency and the draft retooling an offense that badly needed help, but the defense remains the foundation. Cleveland finished among the league’s top units last season, allowing just 283.6 yards and 22.3 points per game. It’s an even more impressive feat considering how often the offense stalled, leaving the defense to defend short fields and shoulder an outsized workload.
Cleveland did add to its secondary with second-round safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He spent his collegiate career with Toledo, playing in 48 career games. He totaled 214 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, one sack, 13 passes defensed and five interceptions.
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