Who's filling all these uniforms finally will be known on Tuesday, though the Browns' roster will continue to change for days after. (TheLandOnDemand)
These are the toughest decisions facing the Browns as cutdown to 53 looms
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Kevin Stefanski’s surprising decision to play quarterback Baker Mayfield and a “select” number of other starters in the final preseason game in Atlanta means the coach is readying to turn the page to the Kansas City Chiefs and the season opener on Sept. 12.
Tryouts for the bottom spots on the roster are down to a precious few more snaps in live action against the Falcons.
When I asked Stefanski exactly how many spots are up for grabs in the final preseason game, he paused.
“It is a good question,” he said. “It has been such a competitive camp for these roster spots. I am so appreciative of the way the guys have worked. Those conversations are ongoing. This is all part of the evaluation process. I can’t tell you exactly how many spots there are, but I do think these game reps are really valuable in the overall evaluation.”
These need to be addressed in advance of Tuesday’s roster cuts to 53. That 53 is not the “final” roster, but rather the “initial” roster. There will be deletions and additions over the next 7-10 days.
Before then, Stefanski, his coaching staff and GM Andrew Berry have to settle a few issues that are coming to a head.
Chris Hubbard
Ole Mother Hubbard, as Steelers coach Mike Tomlin once affectionately called him, is beloved in the organization. But he has a few things going against him in his comeback from a serious knee injury.
He turned 30 in April. He has the fourth-highest salary cap number ($4.961 million) on the offensive line even after agreeing to a club-friendlier contract restructuring last year. And the Browns have a handful of promising, young linemen they’d like to turn over to line coach Bill Callahan and not lose in a roster numbers crunch.
Hubbard’s greatest assets are his experience and ability to swing from either tackle position and either guard position. Nobody else on the line has that flexibility.
No doubt third-round pick James Hudson is viewed as a future starting tackle. Another one could be Greg Senat, the former college power forward who is big and agile – perfect for Callahan’s wide zone.
Hubbard’s versatility is enticing, however. Without him, the Browns might have to keep nine linemen – the five starters, Hudson and Senat, heir-apparent center Nick Harris, and another guard, possibly Michael Dunn, who does offer versatility but has been hurt (back).
Trying to sneak a young lineman to the practice squad is among the biggest position risks because every team is looking for them. Senat was poached last year by Dallas and the Browns went back and signed him.
What to do with Hubbard might be the team’s toughest decision.
Five ends or five tackles?
The defensive line poses a similar dilemma.
For a four-man front, four ends and four tackles usually are the normal allotment. But the Browns’ situation could merit a case for five at either position, or both.
The starting ends are Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. Takk McKinley, despite his two-week absence for a personal issue, is still prominently in the plans. That leaves four young ends in the running for perhaps one spot – Porter Gustin, Joe Jackson, Cameron Malveaux and Curtis Weaver. An argument to keep any one of them easily can be made.
The tackle situation is more crowded.
The starting tackles are Andrew Billings and Malik Jackson. Rookie fourth-round pick Tommy Togiai is a lock. Then there are four others of note – Jordan Elliott, Sheldon Day, Malik McDowell and Marvin Wilson.
Elliott was a third-round pick in 2020 and once was penciled in as a future starter. But his second camp has been meh. Day is a fifth-year vet who has been impressive. McDowell, a behemoth with power and quickness, looks like he is unlocking his potential after four years of legal troubles. And Wilson was given one of the highest guarantees of any NFL undrafted rookie this year.
No doubt the Browns would like to protect the young talents and, at worst, bring them back to the practice squad. But defensive linemen, like offensive linemen, are usually the first players claimed when exposed to waivers.
JoJo Natson and Demetric Felton
Everybody else in the media is calling this roster decision a “no-brainer” in favor of Felton, mostly because he was drafted by Berry (sixth round) and has done everything the club has asked, which has been plenty.
I’m not so sure it’s an easy call.
Natson is the only returner on the roster capable of taking it to the house any time the ball is in his hands. While only 155 pounds, he also has flashed his speed and quickness as a receiver and jet-sweeper.
Felton’s No. 1 attribute, to me, appears to be his roster flexibility. He can fill in as an emergency receiver or an emergency back and can catch punts. But he doesn’t have a special physical attribute; he merely helps to squeeze in a player at another roster position. He is not a better back than No. 3 D’Ernest Johnson, nor a better special teamer.
Felton probably makes the initial roster, however. Especially after hearing special teams coordinator Mike Priefer say the No. 1 priority of his returners is to turn the ball over to the offense (as opposed to the defense) and anything beyond that is a bonus. The value of a potential return specialist in Natson doesn’t appear to be there.
The fourth tight end
If Stefanski wants to maintain a fourth tight end after the injury to Stephen Carlson – I think he does – this comes down to Jordan Franks, who first entered the NFL in 2018 as an undrafted free agent of the Bengals, and Johnny Stanton, the 250-pound college QB who was converted to fullback by the Vikings when Stefanski was still with them.
Stanton has shown he can receive the ball. He admits he is still learning the nuances of fullback. But he also could serve as an emergency QB, in a pinch.
Other issues
* Rookie receiver Anthony Schwartz hasn’t shown much because of hamstring issues. Conceivably, he could make the initial roster and then be IR’d to put those issues behind once and for all. (This is where Felton’s value as a sixth receiver comes into play.)
* Receiver Davion Davis will begin the season on the suspension list. This is a convenient delay before making a final decision on a player who has been impressive. If there is an injury to a Browns receiver in the first two weeks, Davis is a ready replacement starting in Week 3.
* Third quarterback Kyle Lauletta has been one of the surprises of camp, the way he has seamlessly operated Stefanski’s offense in the preseason games without a lot of practice reps. There’s no doubt he should be brought back to the practice squad. The risk of Lauletta being claimed, I believe, is smaller than a young lineman getting poached.
