The Cleveland Browns put a bow on their 2026 preseason schedule with a 37-13 win over the New England Patriots on Thursday night. 

With the preseason now over, all attention turns to roster cuts that have to be finalized by Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Cleveland started the process Thursday morning when they parted ways with WR Cedric Tillman, and more moves are coming in the next couple of days. 

Ahead of rosters being cut down, I’m dropping a final prediction on what the initial 53-man roster will look like for the Browns.

Editor’s Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2026 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2026 undrafted free agents.

Quarterback (3)

IN: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Taylen Green*

OUT: Dillon Gabriel

THE SKINNY: Cleveland has just one question at quarterback: who is going to be the third quarterback? I have a hard time seeing them putting Green on waivers and potentially losing a player with a higher ceiling than Gabriel. In fact, Green getting on the field might be the only fun this QB room brings in 2026. Both players showed strong moments in the final preseason game, but I’m just not sure the Browns would roster four.

Running Back (3)

IN: Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Raheim Sanders

OUT: Ahmani Marshall

THE SKINNY: Sampson showed strong flashes in the preseason, and I feel good about what he can be as the second running back. Sanders and Marshall have battled it out for the third running back spot and I think that guy has to be Sanders, it looked to be solidified Thursday night.

Wide Receiver (6)

IN: Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion*, Denzel Boston*, Isaiah Bond, Tylan Wallace, Luke Floriea

OUT: Cedric Tillman (waived Thursday), Gage Larvadain, Malachi Corley, Ben Patterson

THE SKINNY: I believe there are five wide receivers locked in and the last spot comes down to Floriea, Tillman, Larvadain, and Corley. Give me the player who has made the most plays during training camp. The wideout position is strongly improved for Cleveland. 

Tight End (3)

IN: Harold Fannin Jr., Joe Royer*, Carsen Ryan

OUT: Blake Whiteheart

THE SKINNY: We haven’t seen Royer at all during training camp but I have a hard time seeing the Browns cut the early Day 3 draft pick at a position of need. Whiteheart is someone they’ll want back on the practice squad, and they very well could keep him and roster four.

Offensive Line (10)

IN: Spencer Fano*, Tytus Howard, Elgton Jenkins, Zion Johnson, Austin Barber*, Parker Brailsford*, Teven Jenkins, KT Leveston, Zak Zinter, Dawand Jones

OUT: Tyre Phillips, Luke Wypler, Jeremiah Byers, 

THE SKINNY: Cleveland could go a lot of different ways with the offensive line and I wouldn’t be surprised to see guys like Jones, Zinter, and Leveston potentially getting cut. An improved unit on paper over a year ago. 

Defensive Line (10)

IN: Jared Verse, Isaiah McGuire, Derek Barnett, Adin Huntington, Maliek Collins, Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr., Sam Kamara, Kalia Davis, Logan Fano**

OUT: Julian Okwara, Tyreak Sapp**

THE SKINNY: Alex Wright being out for the season is a tough break for the Browns because they already needed pass rush depth. If the Browns are ever missing Verse, they’ll be hurting bad for help. They’ll have to make another addition along the edge before the season, but folks should feel good about the interior. 

Linebacker (6)

IN: Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Winston Reid, Nathaniel Watson, Justin Jefferson*, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold

OUT: Edefuan Ulofoshio

THE SKINNY: Schwesinger is the star in the room and Williams is a good running mate to have. The Browns’ depth this season is solid and the Alabama linebacker Jefferson is a player to watch on special teams specifically. 

Cornerback (5)

IN: Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Myles Harden, Mekhi Blackmon, Michael Coats Jr.**

OUT: D’Angelo Ross, Myles Bryant, Tre Avery

THE SKINNY: Cleveland is hurting if either Ward or Campbell go down with an injury at any point. This is a room where I see the Browns making a waiver claim to add depth. They could roster five initially then add a sixth through waivers. The addition of Blackmon was needed.

Safety (4)

IN: Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman Jr., Emmanuel McNeil-Warren*, Donovan McMillon

OUT: Chris Edmonds, Daniel Thomas

THE SKINNY: Drafting McNeil-Warren has this room trending upward as one of the better groups of players on the team. I think McMillon should make the team again as an undrafted free agent, and that Cleveland should keep four players at the position. 

Special Teams (3)

IN: P Corey Bojorquez, K Andre Szmyt, LS Rex Sunahara

OUT: P Nik Constantinou

THE SKINNY: The only special teams competition was at punter and I think it was a healthy one overall. Cleveland sticks with what they know in Bojorquez.