Jaleel McLaughlin's NFL journey took a sharp turn this week — and then quickly righted itself.
The Youngstown State product was among the Denver Broncos' final cuts as the team trimmed its roster to 53 men on Sunday, ending a stretch in which the undrafted free agent appeared in 41 games and made nine starts. Broncos GM George Paton explained the decision plainly: the team opted to keep Tyler Badie at running back over McLaughlin, choosing depth that better fit the current roster construction.
What happened next was a mild surprise. McLaughlin cleared the waiver wire unclaimed — a notable outcome for a back with his production history — before landing on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad. The Browns, who also count Youngstown State wide receiver Bryce Oliver on their roster, now have a pair of Penguins in their building.
McLaughlin's path has always been the kind of story that resonates in the Mahoning Valley. He arrived in Denver without a draft slot to his name, carved out a role through standout preseason performances, and grew into a legitimate contributor in the Broncos' backfield. Losing a waiver claim on him suggests around the league either saw him as a practice squad-caliber player at this stage or simply had no roster need at the position. Cleveland, apparently, had both the need and the interest.
Practice squad spots don't guarantee active-roster elevation, but they do keep a player in the system, in weekly game-prep, and one injury call-away from suiting up on Sundays. For McLaughlin, staying in the AFC and landing close to home — Cleveland sits roughly an hour from Youngstown — adds a storyline that'll resonate with the Penguin faithful.
Beyond McLaughlin, the broader Youngstown State alumni footprint across the NFL remains steady. Andrew Ogletree and Derek Rivers are with the Indianapolis Colts, Mike McAllister is on the Los Angeles Rams' linebacker corps, and Kevin Rader is with the New Orleans Saints at tight end.
But this week belongs to McLaughlin. Cut, unclaimed, and re-signed within days — it's a fitting chapter for a player who has never had anything handed to him.
AI-generated summary
