The Cleveland Browns roster turnover continues, as the team waived cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. Cleveland selected him in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft, but he was viewed by many as a first or second round talent prior to a pre-Rose Bowl knee injury.
Ekpre-Olomu suffered a torn ACL and dislocated knee in December 2014, and spent the past year rehabbing the injury. He was waived with the non-football injury designation, which would indicate the team did not think he was going to sufficiently recover from the knee injury. For those wondering, an injury suffered prior to the draft is referred to as a non-football injury, even if it happened on the football field.
Ekpre-Olomu said on Instagram six weeks ago that he is close to 100 percent, and had also said he expected to be ready for the offseason workout program. The Browns would seem to think otherwise.
The former Oregon product stands 5'9, 194 pounds. He was originally recruited to Oregon by Chip Kelly's coaching staff, and played his first two seasons under Kelly. People have already asked about whether the 49ers might be interested. Ekpre-Olomu has to clear waivers, so the 49ers could put in a claim if they so choose. Kelly and company did not take a chance on him in Philadelphia in the 2015 NFL Draft, so who knows if he would take a chance now. The risk would be fairly low given his seventh round salary, and he is signed through 2018. It is worth noting he would be the shortest cornerback on the 49ers roster if they elected to claim him.