Cleveland Browns took a trip out west and wrapped their preseason up with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Now, the focus for the Browns shifts to making the necessary adjustments to the roster.
Teams around the NFL must get down to 53 players on their roster by Tuesday and the Browns will soon begin making their way.
With that being said, we will take one final crack at what this initial roster could look like.
Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2024 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2024 free agents signings.
Quarterback (3)
IN : Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston**, Dorian Thompson-Robinson
OUT : Tyler Huntley**
The skinny : To me, it appears that DTR has taken over the No. 3 job pretty clearly and that was proven in the preseason. Huntley is on the outside looking in. Ideally, the Browns would like to trade Huntley.
Running back (3)
IN : Jerome Ford, D’Onta Foreman**, Nyhiem Hines**
Nick Chubb (injured reserve)
OUT : Pierre Strong Jr., Aidan Robbins
The skinny : It is unclear when Chubb will be back, but the Browns can ride Ford and Foreman until he is. Cleveland will add to the practice squad to help out as well.
Wide receiver (6)
IN : Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, David Bell, Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash*
OUT : James Proche II, Jaelon Darden, Mike Woods II, Matt Landers, Ahmarean Brown
The skinny : Woods has come back strong from injury and is someone the Browns may keep around, but I cut him here for number reasons. If Cleveland can get Woods to the practice squad they will be thrilled. Thrash has earned his spot on the roster.
Tight end (3)
IN : David Njoku, Jordan Akins, Zaire Mitchell-Paden
OUT : Treyton Welch
The skinny : Ricci’s injury cut his time short with the Browns and I believe that gives Mitchell-Paden a chance to make the team. Mitchell-Paden has spent time with the Browns practice squad in the past and now makes the initial 53. He had a strong preseason outside of the final exhibition.
Offensive line (10)
IN : Jedrick Wills Jr., Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones, Nick Harris, Zak Zinter*, James Hudson, Germain Ifedi**
Hakeem Adeniji** (injured reserve)
OUT : Michael Dunn, Wyatt Davis, Javion Cohen, Lorenzo Thompson, Brian Allen, Luke Wypler(IR), Zack Johnson
The skinny : Cleveland is dealing with a lot of injuries at left tackle and they’ll have to begin the season, likely not 100 percent there. Depth could be tested early in the season. I expect they will do some juggling at this position over the first few weeks on the back end.
Defensive line (10)
IN : Myles Garrett, ZaDarius Smith, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Isaiah McGuire, Alex Wright, Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris, Quinton Jefferson**, Michael Hall Jr.*, Maurice Hurst
OUT : Siaki Ika, Sam Kamara, Isaiah Thomas, Jowon Briggs*, Jeremiah Martin
The skinny : Ika becomes another project draft pick that the Browns let go. I could see them trying to get him to the practice squad, similar to what they did with Tommy Togiai after they figured out it wasn’t going to work.
Linebacker (6)
IN : Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jordan Hicks, Devin Bush, Tony Fields II, Mohamoud Diabate, Nathaniel Watson*
OUT : Caleb Johnson, Winston Reid, Landon Honeycutt
The skinny : I believe that Diabate is going to be a strong depth linebacker and he has had the preseason to lock in a roster spot. JOK is the star of the group. Some believe that Fields will not make the team, but I am a fan of his special teams impact and his ability to be depth at linebacker.
Cornerback (5)
IN : Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr., Greg Newsome II, Cam Mitchell, Myles Harden*
OUT : Tony Brown, Justin Hardee, Kahlef Hailassie, Faion Hicks, Chris Edmonds
The skinny : Cleveland continues to have one of the best cornerback trios in the NFL. The group is much like last year’s, except for the addition of the rookie Harden, who has had a strong camp and looks like a steal .
Safety (4)
IN : Grant Delpit, Juan Thornhill, Rodney McLeod, Ronnie Hickman Jr.
OUT : D’Anthony Bell, Chase Williams, Tyler Croyle
The skinny : Instead of keeping five safeties like last year to start things out, the Browns roll with four and get Bell to the practice squad.
Special teams (3)
IN : Dustin Hopkins, Corey Bojorquez, Charley Hughlett
OUT : Lucas Havrisik
The skinny : Cleveland traded Cade York to the Washington Commanders and brought in Havrisik to kick in the final game with Hopkins still resting a small injury. This room is easy to figure out.
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