Cleveland Browns’ updated 53-man roster projection following OTAs and prior to training camp
The offseason is pretty much over in the NFL. Cleveland Browns and the rest of the league will return to their training camps in late July and prepare for the gauntlet that is the NFL season. With just over a month until the players and coaches are back on the practice field, let’s dig into […]
The offseason is pretty much over in the NFL. Cleveland Browns and the rest of the league will return to their training camps in late July and prepare for the gauntlet that is the NFL season.
With just over a month until the players and coaches are back on the practice field, let’s dig into what the roster projects to look like.
Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2024 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2024 free agent signings.
Quarterback (3)
IN: Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston**, Dorian Thompson-Robinson
OUT: Tyler Huntley**
The skinny: Cleveland enters the season with a proven backup in Winston. If things go south for Watson and he misses significant time for a third year in a row as a member of the Browns, Winston will be the guy. I look for them to try to trade gauntlet for a late-round pick
Running back (4)
IN: Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, D’Onta Foreman**, Nyhiem Hines**
OUT: Pierre Strong Jr., John Kelly Jr., l
The skinny: There is no telling when Chubb will be back but the good news is the Browns are expecting him to make his return this season. For the time being, Ford and Foreman will handle most of the running of the football.
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
The skinny: Right now, everyone awaits Cooper and the Browns to figure out the contract holdout. The room is pretty much complete with Thrash making the team as a late-round rookie.
Tight end (3)
IN: David Njoku, Jordan Akins, Giovanni Ricci**
OUT: Zaire Mitchell-Paden,
The skinny: I really expected the Browns would sign a veteran tight end but that has not happened. Cleveland will not have much pass catching ability after Ricci.
Offensive line (9)
IN: Jedrick Wills Jr., Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones, Luke Wypler, Hakeem Adeniji**, Zak Zinter*
OUT: James Hudson, Michael Dunn, Germain Ifedi**, Wyatt Davis, Javion Cohen, Lorenzo Thompson, Brian Allen
The skinny: Cleveland is cutting a couple of players in Dunn and Hudson who had spent the last couple of years with the team. Thought.
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, Lonnie Phelps, Isaiah Thomas, Jowon Briggs*, Chris Williams,
The skinny: With less room at defensive tackle after drafting Hall, letting Ika go was a tough choice. But someone has to be the off man out and Hurst deserves another spot on the team.
Linebacker (6)
IN: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jordan Hicks, Devin Bush, Tony Fields II, Mohamoud Diabate, Nathaniel Watson*
OUT: Charlie Thomas III, Caleb Johnson, Winston Reid
The skinny: A new look room with Anthony Walker Jr. and Sione Takitaki gone. Watson makes the team as a seventh-round pick. I believe we could see an All-Pro season from JOK in 2024.
Cornerback (5)
IN: Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr., Greg Newsome II, Cam Mitchell, Kahlef Hailassie, Myles Harden*
OUT: Tony Brown, Vincent Gray, Justin Hardee
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.
Safety (4)
IN: Grant Delpit, Juan Thornhill, Rodney McLeod, Ronnie Hickman Jr.
OUT: D’Anthony Bell, Brady Breeze
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: Cade York,
The skinny: York coming back to Cleveland for the offseason was a cool story but he’s just not consistent enough to be the guy. Hopkins was unreal for the Browns last year and even if he takes a slight step back, he’s still pretty good and enough to get by with.
Browns’ biggest storylines that could be of interest on new “Hard Knocks” with the rest of the AFC North
There will be a few interesting things going on with the Browns.
