Moffatt is an undrafted rookie from Middle Tennessee State
The Cleveland Browns filled one of the two open spots on the 53-man roster by signing safety Jovante Moffatt from their own practice squad. The team announced the move on Tuesday.
Moffatt is an undrafted rookie from Middle Tennessee State. He signed with the Browns shortly after the draft and has been on Cleveland’s practice squad since the season began. The 5-11, 213-pounder effectively fills the spot previously held by Montrel Meander, who was waived on Monday.
Cleveland still has an empty spot on the active roster after placing WR/KR JoJo Natson on injured reserve. That move also became official on Tuesday. Natson is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL in Sunday’s win over Washington. They also have an opening on the practice squad with Moffatt now being on the main roster.
Garrett Gilbert and newcomer Greg Senat are among the first Browns on the protected practice squad
A new rule change for 2020 allows NFL teams to protect up to four players on the practice squad each week. While players are exposed during the aftermath of a game week, once they get back to the practice squad the next week the players can be locked in. No team can sign the protected players until after that week’s game.
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The Cleveland Browns used the protected designation for Week 1 on four players:
QB Garrett Gilbert
S Jovante Moffatt
PK Cody Parkey
OT Greg Senat
Senat was signed just before the Browns had to determine the protected members of the practice squad, an indication they value his addition more than fans might expect.
The Browns will also be able to make two practice squad players active on Sunday in Baltimore as a result of another rule change. One of those extra two actives must be an offensive lineman. Based on protecting him, that could very well be Senat.
Hilliard and Moffatt both went on the list on July 26th
The first two Cleveland Browns players to get placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list have been activated. The team removed RB Dontrell Hilliard and S Jovante Moffatt from the list on Tuesday.
Hilliard and Moffatt initially went on the list on July 26th. Hilliard, a third-year running back and return man, was the first active player to get placed on the list. Being placed on the list is not an indication of a positive test.
Both players are now free to work out with teammates.
Punter Jamie Gillan was removed from the list on Monday after a clarification about players who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 before joining the team activities came from the league.
Jovante Moffatt: What the Browns are getting in their new UDFA safety from Middle Tennessee State
The Cleveland Browns recently announced the signing of 15 undrafted free agents. All are fighting uphill battles to make the 53-man roster, but they all have a shot.
Today we are taking a dive into Middle Tennessee State safety, Jovante Moffatt. Cleveland is looking for young playmakers in their defensive backfield and perhaps Moffatt fits the bill.
Name: Jovante Moffatt
Position: Safety
School: Middle Tennessee State
Height: 5-11
Weight: 213 pounds
A couple guys that I think have starter potential that I have heard almost no buzz on is Luke Juriga, Kyle Markway, Isaiah Coulter, Joe Gaziano, Grayland Arnold and Jovante Moffatt. https://t.co/IOnZ9QWgQz
Strengths: Moffatt has a ton of experience with 55 starts under his belt. He had an extremely productive collegiate career tallying 313 sacks and five interceptions. He had an impressive enough senior season to warrant an invite to the NFLPA Bowl and was able to play well enough to earn serious draft consideration. Moffatt does have a few games where he showed early-round potential, most noticeably his two-interception effort against Marshall this past season.
Been a big believer of Middle Tennessee safety Jovante Moffatt (@Jovante_Moffatt) for some time now. Physical presence at safety, Jovante exemplifies intensity as a football player. Really underrated range as well for his play style. Don’t overlook him folks. Really good player. pic.twitter.com/zaaGZloY3M
Weaknesses: Moffatt wasn’t selected during the draft for a reason. Despite having an impressive NFLPA Bowl it was not shocking to see him fall out completely. Even while playing in the C-USA, he disappears far too often. For every dominant game he has, he also has two underwhelming contests. Moffatt plays undisciplined and he doesn’t have the athleticism to make up for his mistakes in the NFL.
Overall: Moffatt is going to have an uphill battle to make this roster even with the Browns lacking ideal depth at safety. He has some very exciting tape and has an aggressive mentality that may allow him to contribute eventually, but there are a ton of boxes he doesn’t check and doesn’t have the ideal athleticism for that deep safety role in the NFL. Perhaps he can make the roster due to his special teams potential, but it will be tough.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Middle Tennessee State defensive back Jovante Moffatt
Today’s NFL requires versatility at the safety position, asking back-line defenders to hang with the league’s athletic pass-catchers at all levels of the field, as well as getting their hands dirty in run support.
Middle Tennessee State has been sending underrated defensive backs into the NFL in recent years, and Jovante Moffatt is this year’s candidate for draft-day sleeper.
Moffatt recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about what the success of former teammates Kevin Byard and Charvarius Ward means for his confidence, which receiver has been the toughest to line up against, and what kind of skill set he’ll bring to the next level.
JM: How would you describe your skill set?
Moffett: I’m an aggressive tackler in the box. I play well in coverage. Our defense here at Middle Tennessee State, we play some zone, we also drop a lot of guys in coverage. I’m used to dropping back and having to cover. We’re multiple here. That’s football wise. Aside from the skill set, I’m pretty much the leader of this defense. I call the plays and make the checks. I have a high football I.Q.
JM: Do you see yourself as a strong or free safety at the next level?
Moffett: I get that question a lot. I’d say I’m a free safety or a nickel corner actually. I have a lot of tackles to my name, and that’s why people often associate me with the strong safety position. I came in as a free safety originally. I switched over when a younger defensive back arrived here and we gave him the free safety job. I just ran away with the strong safety position after that. I feel like I can play both. It doesn’t matter.
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
JM: There’s been no shortage of successful defensive backs to come out of Middle Tennessee State as of late. We all know Kevin Byard, who went from a third-round pick and combine snub to being quite possibly the best safety in the game. We can look at Charvarius Ward, as well, who went from undrafted free agent to earning a starting cornerback role with the Kansas City Chiefs. When you look at those two guys, what does that do for your motivation?
Moffett: Looking at those guys, it does a ton for my confidence. It really makes me feel like you can do anything you put your mind to. It doesn’t matter where you come from, a big school or whatever. We’re a mid major and you know how that goes, we get a lot of blue collar guys with a chip on their shoulder. I keep in touch with both Byard and Ward. They’ve helped me throughout the process. I just hope to continue the legacy they’ve helped lay down here so I can continue to help the guys behind me.
JM: You talked about playing in coverage a little bit. They’re gonna ask you to cover tight ends and running backs for sure. How do you cover a bigger, more physical guy differently than you do a smaller, shiftier guy?
Moffett: I feel like when you get to the tight end side of things, you can be physical and get your hands on them. Sometimes more-so than these smaller, speedier receivers. I will say this though, these tight ends are built different nowadays. They’re a lot more versatile now. You have a lot of tight ends that can run nowadays. That changes things from a physical standpoint. At the end of the day, I gotta be able to cover and play ball. That’s what it always comes back to.
JM: The safety position has changed a lot recently, as well.
Moffett: Yeah, there’s no doubt about that. The way football is being played has changed a lot. We have to be able to turn and run nowadays. We gotta cover. You won’t survive with stiff hips. Whether that means you have to be smaller or whatever, it doesn’t matter how you get it done, but you gotta cover. We have to be versatile. We have to tackle as well.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
JM: What’s your favorite part about playing the position?
Moffett: I love being the leader of the defense. I love being the one responsible for making the checks. I wanna be the one to put my defense in the best situation possible. I know this defense in and out. One of my favorite things about this defense is being able to drop in coverage and read the quarterback. There’s no better than feeling than being able to read the quarterback and make a play on the ball. Our coaches have helped me with that along the way. I plan on continuing to do that.
JM: Who’s the best opponent you’ve ever gone up against throughout your time at MTSU?
Moffett: That’s a great question. I have to say a former teammate of mine, Richie James. You know he’s with the San Francisco 49ers now. We can talk about games and other opponents and such, but my answer is Richie James in practice. We were 1-on-1 partners back in the day. Defensive backs versus wide receivers, it was always Richie James and I. I can mention one opponent though. Ironically, he’s Richie’s teammate now with the 49ers. Trent Taylor. He played at Louisiana Tech. He’s a good, shifty little receiver. He had a good game against us. Richie was the best receiver I ever faced in college though. He gave me a lot of work in practice.
JM: This is your last year at MTSU. As you look back on your career and the goals you entered this season with, do you feel you accomplished what you set out to accomplish?
Moffett: I’m just trying to leave everybody on a positive note. I want my teammates and coaches to smile when they think of me. I want them to say that Jovante did everything he could to leave this school in a good place. I just wanna go out there and make plays on the ball and help the team win games. We had a lot of younger guys playing on the back-end this year. I wanna be a positive influence on them. All I can do now is try to lead those guys in the right direction. I hope I set an example for them just like guys like Kevin Byard and Charvarius Ward did for me. When I leave, I hope I influenced them to leave a better legacy for themselves.
