Hjalte Froholdt, aka the Great Dane, could be one of the surprise keepers when the Browns make their cut to 53 players by Tuesday. (Cleveland Browns)
We project the Browns’ cut to 53, but don’t clip and save because it will change
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
I don’t like making roster projections because we on the outside are not privy to all the information a team considers when selecting the final spots on the roster.
Things like severity of injuries, hidden roster bonuses, and future considerations come into play. Such as, there could be a player who might be kept specifically for a particular opponent in the first month of the schedule. Or a player could be kept and then be relegated to the practice squad when players become available from other team cuts.
Nevertheless, roster projections have become almost as popular as mock drafts.
And so, with one practice game to go, I offer my projection of the 53-player roster. Keep in mind that it is not a “final roster,” but merely the “initial roster.”
Several changes at the bottom always are made before the team heads into its first game of the real season. Performances in the final game against the Chicago Bears also could influence changes.
Quarterbacks (2): Jacoby Brissett, Joshua Dobbs.
Comment: Deshaun Watson opens the season on the suspended list. I would expect the Browns to add a third quarterback on the practice squad. It could be Josh Rosen, but I would still keep an eye on Nick Mullens, who was traded from the Raiders to the Vikings last week. If Jimmy Garoppolo is released by the 49ers, I would expect the Browns to show some interest, but it would be too late, in my opinion, and he would opt elsewhere.
Running backs (4): Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, Jerome Ford (r).
Comment: Hunt or Johnson still could be traded – possibly for a wide receiver – but my projection is based on that not happening. In order to keep all four, the Browns will have to go short-handed at another position group. In this scenario, fullback Johnny Stanton doubles as the fourth tight end.
Tight ends (4): David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Miller Forristall, Johnny Stanton.
Comment: I don’t expect Kevin Stefanski to employ 13 personnel – three tight ends -- nearly as much as he did last year. But Stanton and Forristall can contribute on special teams and would be reserves in case of injury to the top two.
Wide receivers (6): Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Bell (r), Anthony Schwartz, Demetric Felton, Mike Harley (r).
Comment: This group is written in pencil. I would expect at least one new receiver joining after the league cutdown to 53. Harley looks like he received the most reps in games and practices and he had his moments. Michael Woods (r) likely opens the season on an injury list.
Offensive linemen (10): Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard, James Hudson, Blake Hance, Michael Dunn, Hjalte Froholdt.
Comment: Four tackles and six interior linemen would give line coach Bill Callahan plenty of options. All the backup interior linemen are capable of playing at least two positions. I could see tackle Alex Taylor winding up on the practice squad.
Defensive linemen (9): Myles Garrett, Jordan Elliott, Taven Bryan, Jadeveon Clowney, Alex Wright (r), Isaiah Thomas (r), Isaac Rochell, Tommy Togiai, Perrion Winfrey (r).
Comment: The big surprise here would be Rochell knocking veteran acquisition Chase Winovich off the roster. Winovich hasn’t practiced since Aug. 14 and even before that he began camp on the third team behind Rochell.
Linebackers (6): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jacob Phillips, Sione Takitaki, Anthony Walker, Tony Fields, Dakota Allen.
Comment: Allen sneaks on the 53 to fill the special teams role vacated by the Winovich ouster.
Cornerbacks (5): Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Greedy Williams, A.J. Green, M.J. Emerson (r).
Comment: I can make the case this is the strongest cornerback room from one to five in the NFL.
Safeties (4): John Johnson, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison, D’Anthony Bell.
Comment: Special teams duty doesn't save Richard LeCounte from becoming the first draft pick of GM Andrew Berry to be released.
Specialists (3): Cade York, Corey Bojorquez, Charley Hughlett.
Comment: Jakeem Grant’s season-ending Achilles injury has led to daily auditions to produce a return specialist. Next up is waiver pickup Easop Winston. Demetric Felton, Jerome Ford, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Mike Harley have had reps there, too.
