#HeyTony: Should we be concerned about the Browns’ cornerback depth?

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Hey Tony: How concerned are you about the secondary after Martin Emerson’s season ending injury?

-- Dave, Fairlawn, OH

Hey Dave: Emerson’s injury was a bummer. But Greg Newsome has looked much better than last year and second-year corner Myles Harden has stacked a few good practices in a row. I’ll be more concerned if Denzel Ward or Newsome miss games because of injury. I wouldn’t be surprised if a veteran cornerback is added after roster cuts.

Hey Tony: You've attended many camps over the years, so I'm sure you can often gauge how the team is likely to perform in the upcoming year. Of course, there are exceptions, but my question is, do you see anything from this particular camp that encourages you beyond eight wins?

-- Tim, Amherst, OH

Hey Tim: Beyond eight wins? No, nothing I see suggests more than eight. Eight wins would be my max at this point. Eight would exceed the 4.5 or 5.5 win estimation of the betting apps.

Hey Tony: What are the chances for each person of getting cut? Gabriel and Sanders?

-- Gino, Youngstown, OH

Hey Gino: Dillon Gabriel: Zero chance. Shedeur Sanders: Zero chance.

Hey Tony: Which of these 4 QBs will be on the roster at the start of NEXT season?

-- Ryan, Ashtabula, OH

Hey Ryan: Gabriel and Sanders will be on the roster next year, competing against a first-round QB to be the 2026 opening day starter.

Hey Tony: After nine days of camp, what’s your early estimate of PPG scored by this offense?

-- Justin, Newton Falls, OH

Hey Justin: 20.0.

Hey Tony: What is your prediction for starting QB in game ONE, but also game SEVENTEEN. 

-- Cory, Bay Village, OH

Hey Cory: Game 1: Joe Flacco. Game 17: Shedeur Sanders.

Hey Tony: Browns fan for almost 60 years. This season is going to be a disaster.  What if anything do we have to look forward to?

-- Rich, Pittsburgh, PA

Hey Rich: I don’t agree it will be a disaster. But even if it is, the thing to look forward to is the development of this year’s rookie class and then the 2026 draft. With two first-round picks, the Browns should have the opportunity to draft their quarterback of the future. There will be multiple options. They just have to be right.

Hey Tony: If Gabriel flames out and he was Stefanski’s pick, will Kevin actually be held accountable? 

-- Chris, Lakewood, OH

Hey Chris: Let’s bury the narrative of Stefanski and Andrew Berry being on the hot seat until, say, 2027. That gives them two seasons to develop the next QB.

Hey Tony: Is all the attention being directed at the QB competition masking a much bigger issue? Issue being a lack of depth across the Offensive Line.

-- Carlos, Canfield, OH

Hey Carlos: No doubt the defensive line – no, the defensive lines: first, second and third teams – has dominated the proceedings in the early going. I’d like to think the Browns’ D-line has become the strongest unit, top to bottom, on the roster. That said, lack of depth across the offensive line is an issue FOR EVERY TEAM in the NFL. The Browns have claimed two offensive tackles in the last couple days, so they must be concerned with what they’re seeing.

Hey Tony: TLOD subscriber for 2 years. Do you see Flacco being benched first due to record or due to injury? For context, I am a Flacco fan, and if all goes how I think it will I think we will be pleased with the season (playoff birth).

-- Aaron, Aruba

Hey Aaron: I think Flacco will play well over a longer period of time than most believe. But unless the record is within range of the wild-card race, I think at some point the consensus will be to play Gabriel and Sanders to expose them to the real speed of an NFL game. I would expect Gabriel and Sanders to get play time over the last six games.

Hey Tony: How is D. Johnson doing at receiver? Has he returned to form and is a standout at camp or not?

-- Steve, New Philadelphia, OH

Hey Steve: Diontae Johnson has looked good. He appears to assimilating well into the Browns’ offense and culture. If that continues, I think he will open the season as WR2. He’s a good player at his best.

Hey Tony: Is Shedeur Sanders a better prospect than Deshone Kizer was at this same point in his career? Who looked better in their first training camp?

-- Tony, Tucson, AZ

Hey Tony: I thought Kizer would be way better than he turned out. I liked his arm and size and he had decent production at Notre Dame. Honestly, I don’t remember much about his first training camp, other than he was pegged the starter very early by coach Hue Jackson. I’m going to go out on a limb and say if Sanders were given the number of reps with the first team that Kizer received, Sanders would look a lot better.

Hey Tony: We all hope Grant Delpit has a bounce back year, but what about the safety starting across from him?  Assuming it is Ronnie Hickman, does he look like someone who can play consistently well across 17 games?

-- Evan, Hermitage, PA

Hey Evan: I’m waiting for Delpit and Hickman relieve my concerns about this position. I think they can be a potent duo, but they have to do it on the field.

Hey Tony: Based on what I’m hearing it sounds like Sanders is having a decent camp and has shown ability to throw the ball really well. Why do you think the staff is hesitant to give him reps with the 1’s? Is there really a chance he doesn’t make this team?

-- Tony, Nashville, TN

Hey Tony: I think the Browns coaches and personnel staff just believe that Sanders wasn’t developed completely at Colorado and he needs to refine a few things before he is ready to compete in an NFL game as a starting quarterback. In other words, he has a lot to learn and they intend to “learn” him. Another factor is there are three quarterbacks on hand – two veterans, for sure – that are ahead of him and they need reps with the 1’s to prepare them for the season. As for Gabriel getting reps with the 1’s, I think the Browns feel he is more developed than Sanders and they want to see if they can trust him as QB2 at the start of the season.

Hey Tony: Does Harold Fannin surpass David Njoku as the pass catching TE, and when?

— RC, Greenville, SC

Hey RC: Njoku has not looked good, in my opinion. But I know what he looks like with Flacco at quarterback, and I think he’ll be fine. Fannin has been impressive but he won’t surpass Njoku this year. His time will come.