As we move past the July 4th holiday, fans of the Cleveland Browns have a little time left to wait for the start of training camp. A perfect time to look back at some things while still looking forward to what might be in 2026. There are a lot of questions about how the Browns roster will look under GM Andrew Berry and new HC Todd Monken, including lingering questions at the quarterback position.
Our way-too-early 53-man roster projection is certain to be wrong after the Myles Garrett trade. Garrett was
obviously a lock for the roster before the trade.
With Berry still in charge, we now want to look back at his first initial 53-man roster in Cleveland. Only one player, CB Denzel Ward, is still with the Browns while a good portion of that team is no longer in the league at all:
Quarterbacks (2): Case Keenum, Baker Mayfield
Running backs (3): Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson
Fullbacks (1): Andy Janovich
Tight ends (5): Pharaoh Brown, Harrison Bryant, Stephen Carlson, Austin Hooper, David Njoku
Wide receivers (6): Odell Beckham Jr., Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, Jarvis Landry, JoJo Natson, Donovan Peoples-Jones
Offensive linemen (9): Joel Bitonio, Evan Brown, Jack Conklin, Nick Harris, Chris Hubbard, Kendall Lamm, Wyatt Teller, JC Tretter, Jedrick Wills Jr.
Defensive linemen (8): Eli Ankou, Adrian Clayborn, Jordan Elliott, Myles Garrett, Porter Gustin, Larry Ogunjobi, Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon
Linebackers (6): Tae Davis, B.J. Goodson, Jacob Phillips, Malcolm Smith, Sione Takitaki, Mack Wilson
Defensive backs (10): Ronnie Harrison, Kevin Johnson, Karl Joseph, Terrance Mitchell, Sheldrick Redwine, Andrew Sendejo, M.J. Stewart Jr., Tavierre Thomas, Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams
Specialists (3): Jamie Gillan, Charley Hughlett, Austin Seibert
Looking at the list of players on that roster, it is impressive that Cleveland won 11 games that season. Much of that was on the backs of Mayfield, Chubb, Hunt, and the two lines. The team’s statistical leaders from that season are interesting stat points:
- Mayfield: 63% completion, 3,563 yards, 26 TDs, 8 INTs
- Chubb: 1,067 rushing yards, 12 rushing TDs
- Hunt: 841 rushing yards, 6 rushing TDs, 5 receiving
- Landry: 72 receptions, 840 yards, 3 receiving TDs
- Higgins and Hooper: 4 receiving TDs, just behind Hunt’s team lead
- Garrett: 12 sacks
- Vernon: 9 sacks
- Goodson: Team-high 91 tackles
- Ward, Goodson, Stewart led the team with 2 INTs each
Only Garrett, Chubb, and Bitonio made the Pro Bowl.
What do you remember about the 2020 roster? Looking back at it now, how surprised are you that they won 11 games that year?
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!
