Rookie linebacker Jacob Phillips is among those that made our roster projection, now he's looking for a starting role. (USA Today)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Without preseason games, roster projections this year are stabs from behind a blindfold.
It’s particularly true for the back-of-the-roster guys who ordinarily may make a team with a couple of tackles on special teams in the last preseason game. They don’t have that opportunity this year.
“Yeah, that is the question that obviously we all worried about back in the spring when we found out there was going to be no preseason games,” said special teams coordinator Mike Priefer. “I knew my job was going to be a little bit more difficult in that regard.
“It is kind of twofold. Every special teams coordinator in the league has to A. try to evaluate all the young players in and B. get your guys ready to play Week 1. It is kind of a double-edged sword type deal.”
On Friday, coach Kevin Stefanski takes his team to FirstEnergy Stadium for the dress rehearsal before all attention turns to the Baltimore Ravens for the season opener. The next morning, Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry will cut the roster to 53.
It’s not exactly the final roster. There will be a handful of waiver claims that eventually will shake up the last spots on the team.
Last year, receiver KhaDarel Hodge and tight end Ricky Seals-Jones were claimed after final cuts and they were contributors throughout the year.
Without the benefit of preseason games, these are my roster projections for the team Stefanski will take to Baltimore Sept. 13. Remember, practice squads have been increased to 16 and that includes up to six veteran players.
Quarterbacks (2): Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum.
Garrett Gilbert has taken few practice reps because of the compressed training camp. I’d expect Gilbert would be invited back to the practice squad. For that reason, there’s no reason to carry a third quarterback.
Running backs (4): Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Dontrell Hilliard, Andy Janovich.
The big question here is Hilliard v. D’Ernest Johnson as the third back. Both can double as kickoff returners. It could go either way and I wouldn’t be surprised whichever one sticks. I would expect backup fullback Johnny Stanton to get a practice squad invite.
Wide receivers (5): Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, KhaDarel Hodge.
This number is low because Stefanski’s offense doesn’t utilize the now-conventional three-receiver set as much as most teams. Hodge and Peoples-Jones are key special teamers. Damion Ratley is the odd man out.
Tight ends (5): Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, David Njoku, Stephen Carlson, Pharaoh Brown.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Njoku traded if a legit offer comes their way. Bryant has surpassed him on two-tight end sets with the first team, and Carlson easily could fill the third tight end role.
Offensive linemen (9): Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard, Kendall Lamm, Nick Harris, Willie Wright.
The unintended consequence of Tretter’s knee surgery is that Harris was robbed of the opportunity to get reps at guard to groom him as an interior swingman. So, when Tretter returns, the only legit backup guard would be Wright. Hubbard can move inside, also, but there would be no natural guard on the bench other than Wright, which is why he should make the team.
Defensive linemen (8): Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson, Larry Ogunjobi, Olivier Vernon, Adrian Clayborn, Porter Gustin, Jordan Elliott, Eli Ankou.
Gustin has had a better camp than 2018 third-round pick Chad Thomas. I’d expect Thomas to be claimed if he is waived. Berry’s claim of injured pass rusher Curtis Weaver last week was a tip-off, to me, that Thomas’ days as a developmental pass rusher are over. It shouldn’t take three years to see results from that position. Weaver was put on injured reserve and will be back in 2021 as Berry’s new pet project. The opt-out of tackle Andrew Billings opened the door to Ankou, whom we have beating out Daniel Ekuale.
Linebackers (6): B.J. Goodson, Sione Takitaki, Jacob Phillips, Malcolm Smith, Tae Davis, Mack Wilson.
Wilson won’t be ready for 6 to 8 weeks and is a candidate for injured reserve/designated to return. I think that designation could hinge on the Browns claiming a linebacker after roster cuts.
Cornerbacks (6): Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Terrance Mitchell, Kevin Johnson, M.J. Stewart, Tavierre Thomas.
Johnson won’t be ready to start the season but shouldn’t miss more than two games. Stewart is next in line as the primary nickel back. Thomas makes it on special teams.
Safeties (4): Karl Joseph, Andrew Sendejo, Sheldrick Redwine, Jovante Moffatt.
Grant Delpit’s season-ending injury should keep Berry’s eyes scanning the waiver wire for a possible replacement. In the meantime, Redwine has an opportunity to prove his versatility in coordinator Joe Woods’ proposed dime scheme. As for the fourth safety, I chose Moffatt solely based on his interception of Mayfield v. Peoples-Jones on the last play of the first scrimmage in FirstEnergy Stadium.
Specialists (4): Austin Seibert, Jamie Gillan, Charley Hughlette, JoJo Natson.
Natson is the surprise here. The 153-pound specialist is a favorite of Priefer and has shown competent enough to sub as a sixth receiver, if needed. One of the biggest roster debates could come down to Natson v. Ratley.