College football is (finally) back!: While We’re Waiting
August 31, 2018Ohio State’s new-look offensive line is massive, quite talented
August 31, 2018The Cleveland Browns are finished with their preseason slate of games for 2018 and are now preparing for their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns made a lot of changes over the course of the offseason and preseason, ending up with a very different roster from 2017. Over the next couple days, Browns General Manager John Dorsey has to evaluate the roster and trim it down to the regular season 53-man roster limit. There are a lot of difficult decisions to be made, to say the least. Cleveland will make their roster up with not just the players on the team now, but also from the waiver wire or trade(s) once other teams evaluate their roster. They will more than likely look outside the organization to help fill the holes on the team and nab some players who were cut or are on the trading block from another team. So with that, here is my prediction for how the Browns will lay out their final 53-man roster going into the 2018 season.
Quarterbacks (3): Tyrod Taylor (S), Baker Mayfield and Drew Stanton
This position may be the most set in stone unit on the team. Taylor is the starter for Game 1, while Mayfield and Stanton will be the backups.
Running Backs (3): Carlos Hyde (S), Duke Johnson and Nick Chubb
The Browns running back unit is an interesting one to figure out. The preseason performance of Hyde has cemented the former Buckeye as the starting running back. Johnson will be used a lot more than a usual backup running back because of his versatility to be a receiver, while Chubb will likely see some carries to spell Hyde at times.
Fullback (1): Danny Vitale (S)
Vitale is the only fullback on the roster, meaning he is safe to make this team.
Tight Ends (3): David Njoku (S), Darren Fells and Seth DeValve
Njoku will be the No. 1 tight end on the roster, poised to have a breakout season. Fells fills the role of the blocking tight end for the team. DeValve has been injured all preseason, but his athleticism in the passing game is too good to give up on over a tough preseason.
Wide Receivers (6): Jarvis Landry (S), Josh Gordon (S), Antonio Callaway, Rashard Higgins, Damion Ratley and a player outside the organization
I do not care what Hue Jackson is saying, Gordon will eventually be the starting wide receiver next to Landry. Callaway and Higgins will be the main backups at receiver, with Ratley making the squad for his upside and strong preseason performance. The last receiver spot will likely go to a player outside the organization. The Browns will scan the waiver wire and trading block to find another player to fill out the unit.
Offensive Line (9): Joel Bitonio (S), Austin Corbett (S), J.C. Tretter (S), Kevin Zeitler (S), Chris Hubbard (S), Greg Robinson, Spencer Drango, Austin Reiter and a player outside the organization
The Browns starting offensive line is pretty set with Bitonio at left tackle, Corbett at left guard, Tretter at center, Zeitler at right guard and Hubbard at right tackle. I think Robinson will win the battle for the backup tackle spot, while Drango wins the backup guard spot. Reiter will be named the backup center. The final spot should go to a player outside the organization. The Browns crop of backup offensive lineman is not very good, so looking elsewhere will likely be the way to go. The Browns may want to nab a versatile lineman with tackle and guard experience.
Defensive Tackles (5): Larry Ogunjobi (S), Jamie Meder (S), Trevon Coley, Caleb Brantley and a player outside the organization
Ogunjobi is the most talented interior defensive lineman on the roster, so he will get the starting nod alongside Meder. With the lack of depth in the interior defensive line, Coley and Brantley will make the roster even though they have had underwhelming preseasons due to play or injury. The Browns No. 1 target in trades or the waiver wire should be the interior defensive line. Look for the final spot to be taken by a player outside the organization.
Defensive Ends (5): Myles Garrett (S), Emmanuel Ogbah (S), Chris Smith, Chad Thomas and Carl Nassib
Garrett and Ogbah are one of the best young starting defensive end duos in the league. Behind them, Smith is the first man off the bench. Thomas is an interesting player because he will likely switch between the edge and the interior of the defensive line. So, he gives depth to the interior, too. With Thomas going between the interior and the edge, Nassib will make the squad as the final defensive end on the depth chart.
Linebackers (6): Christian Kirksey (S), Joe Schobert (S), Jamie Collins (S), Genard Avery, James Burgess and B.J. Bello
With the shocking departure of Mychal Kendricks, the Browns linebacker unit will be an interesting unit to watch this weekend. The Browns will bring back Kirksey, Schobert and Collins as the starting unit. Avery and Burgess are the main backups at linebacker. Avery will also add depth on the edge as a pass rush specialist. The last spot is now wide open, but I am going with Bello to take the spot.
Cornerbacks (5): Denzel Ward (S), Terrance Mitchell (S), E.J. Gaines, T.J. Carrie and Simeon Thomas
Ward is a definite starter because he is the most talented cornerback on the roster. Mitchell will get the second starting nod because of his strong preseason performance. E.J. Gaines is out with an injury and could miss the first couple weeks of the season, but he is likely to still make the squad. T.J. Carrie was one of the Browns big offseason additions and even with a so-so preseason, he secure on the team. The last spot is really interesting. I think Thomas gets the spot given upside and standing as a draft pick of the current regime. The injury to Gaines could cause the Browns to keep another cornerback, but I think Briean Boddy-Calhoun’s presence on the team alleviates the need to add another one.
Safeties (4): Damarious Randall (S), Jabrill Peppers (S), Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Derrick Kindred
Randall will start out as the starting free safety, while Peppers starts at the strong safety position. Boddy-Calhoun is the versatile defensive back, who will serve as the backup free safety and cornerback, filling in as a dime and nickel cornerback for the team. Kindred will be the backup strong safety, but he will see quite a bit of time even though he may not start.
Kicker (1): (S) Zane Gonzalez
Gonzalez won the starting kicking job this preseason and will be the team’s kickoff kicker, too.
Punter (1): (S) Britton Colquitt
Colquitt will be the winner of the starting punter competition because of his solid performance this preseason.
Long Snapper (1): (S) Charley Hughlett
Hughlett is the only long snapper on the team, making him the starting long snapper for the Browns.
*(S) = Predicted Starter for the Position