For at least three to four weeks, the Cleveland Browns have made a decision about the quarterback competition. Gone are the QB trackers, the reasons Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders should/shouldn’t get the job, and pondering what the team will look like with each quarterback. That doesn’t mean the media and fans will stop talking about it, but the team is moving forward.
Next stop, after the third preseason game where few 53-man roster players will participate, is the initial cutdown from 90 players.
A lot has changed since our most recent 53-man roster projection, where we predicted Sanders would be traded after Watson got the starting job. A trade is still a possibility, even if unlikely, after the veteran got the nod from HC Todd Monken. DE Alex Wright is out for the season, with veteran DE Derek Barnett taking his spot, and we’ve seen some players seemingly secure their spot on the roster.
Instead of creating our own 53-man projection, we are looking at the one put out by ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi and evaluating what we see from that roster:
Quarterbacks (4)
Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green
- Keeping four quarterbacks seems like the likely decision at this point, as the three backups will likely get claimed by other teams. Cleveland can get creative by releasing a veteran on the last year of their deal, only to sign them a day later when they waive Green or Gabriel, trying to sneak them to the practice squad, but that is still risky. A trade is still in the cards, potentially.
Running backs (4)
Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Raheim Sanders, Michael Burton (fullback)
- Keeping Burton, who hasn’t practiced at all in training camp, is an interesting decision over using a tight end like Ryan in the role while keeping Ahmani Marshall or another back for Monken’s run-heavy system.
Tight ends (3)
Harold Fannin Jr., Blake Whiteheart, Carsen Ryan
- No one knows for sure the status of Joe Royer, so GM Andrew Berry might be left with just three tight ends after Jack Stoll went on injured reserve. Among the weakest roster spots in Cleveland.
Wide receivers (5)
Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond, Tylan Wallace
- Keeping “just” five receivers would be part of the issue with keeping four quarterbacks. Malachi Corley, Luke Floreia, Cedric Tillman, and Gage Larvadain all have reasons they could/should be the sixth receiver.
Offensive linemen (10)
Spencer Fano, Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, Teven Jenkins, Tytus Howard, Dawand Jones, Parker Brailsford, Austin Barber, KT Leveston, Luke Wypler
- The same 10 linemen we projected before the first preseason game; the Browns roster has some depth here, but keeping three centers (E. Jenkins, Brailsford, Wypler) may not end up making sense.
Defensive linemen (8)
Jared Verse, Maliek Collins, Mason Graham, Isaiah McGuire, Derek Barnett, Mike Hall Jr., Adin Huntington, Kalia Davis
- Berry seems to be on the hunt for another defensive end, which could bump this number to nine. Logan Fano and Sam Kamara could make a case to make the roster as well. Some upfront talent, for sure, but a lot of depth concerns at this spot.
Linebackers (6)
Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Winston Reid, Nathaniel Watson, Justin Jefferson
- It feels like a choice between a sixth linebacker (Watson, Reid, or EMA) versus keeping a fifth safety was made to favor the second level. Some tough decisions to be made.
Cornerbacks (6)
Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Myles Harden, D’Angelo Ross, Tre Avery, Michael Coats Jr.
- Avery has looked a bit lost in coverage but has value on special teams, along with Ross. Trusting Coats then as the team’s fourth cornerback, potentially, could be risky, which is why DC Mike Rutenberg deploys three safeties quite often.
Safeties (4)
Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Christopher Edmonds
- Edmonds is a bit of a surprise here, especially over McMillon. As noted, four safeties could be impacted by keeping six linebackers and four quarterbacks.
Special teams (3)
Andre Szmyt (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Rex Sunahara (LS)
- Nailed it!
What do you think about this projected 53-man roster? Where are the biggest misses? The weakest spots? The most depth?
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
