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Browns 53-man roster prediction: Who’s in and who’s out before Tuesday’s final roster cuts

Published: Aug. 28, 2022, 12:30 p.m.
Cleveland Browns training camp day 12, August 14, 2022
Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry have some tough decisions to make between now and Tuesday afternoon.John Kuntz, cleveland.com


By Dan Labbe, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns have until 4 p.m. on Tuesday to reduce their roster to 53 players. They’re practicing on Tuesday at 3 p.m., so it’s safe to assume they’ll have their roster trimmed well in advance.

After watching practice since the middle of May and sitting through three preseason games, here is a guess as to what the Browns initial 53-man roster will look like:

Quarterback (2): Jacoby Brissett, Joshua Dobbs


Deshaun Watson will move to the suspended list, clearing the way for the Browns to keep Brissett and Dobbs as their two quarterbacks. A third quarterback could land on the practice squad or, if someone becomes available via waivers, boot someone else from another position.

Running back (4): Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson

Johnson could be a trade candidate, but there’s no reason to not put him on the 53-man roster if he isn’t traded. You could even make a case for John Kelly Jr. to make it if you wanted. Another name to watch is Johnny Stanton IV, who you won’t see on this 53-man roster, but if they want a fullback, he’s the guy.


Wide receiver (6): David Bell, Amari Cooper, Demetric Felton Jr., Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz, Michael Woods II

Keeping Schwartz won’t be popular, but Kevin Stefanski said after Saturday’s game Schwartz is not in danger of being cut. The Browns don’t appear ready to give up on their 2021 third-round pick just yet and a thin receiver room overall gives them that ability. There’s no reason they can’t sneak a Mike Harley Jr. or Javon Wims onto the practice squad.

Tight end (3): Harrison Bryant, Miller Forristall, David Njoku

This feels obvious. Njoku and Bryant are in Sharpie and Forristall has consistenly been the No. 3 guy.


Interior offensive line (5): Joel Bitonio, Michael Dunn, Hjalte Froholdt, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller

It’s Pocic, Bitonio and Teller starting inside with Dunn doing most of the work as the backup center. Froholdt can play center or guard.

Offenive tackle (5): Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard, James Hudson III, Alex Taylor, Jedrick Wills Jr.

The bottom of this group is where I feel the least confident. Hubbard was my last player on the offensive side of the ball and it’s notable Taylor played tackle early on Saturday night while Hubbard deals with an injury. There wasn’t a skill guy I was willing to pound the table for in place of keeping 10 linemen.


Edge rusher (6): Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garrett, Isaac Rochell, Isaiah Thomas, Chase Winovich, Alex Wright


Winovich, who has been out with an injury, was my last man to make it defensively as a sixth edge rusher. The two rookies, Thomas and Wright, were gimmes. Rochell has been working first team alongside Wright when Garrett and Clowney have been out.

Defensive tackle (4): Taven Bryan, Jordan Elliott, Tommy Togiai, Perrion Winfrey

This group is razor thin, but Elliott has been earning rave reviews this summer. Winfrey hasn’t looked like someone ready to contribute right away, but he’s not going anywhere. It helps to have edge rushers who can slide inside on passing downs, but if one of the top two guys gets hurt, this group is in trouble.

Linebacker (5): Tony Fields II, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jacob Phillips, Sione Takitaki, Anthony Walker Jr.

I found a way to keep Fields for his special teams work and the remaining group of linebackers behind him didn’t excite me. He won’t get much work on defense, however, if the top four ahead of him stay healthy. This group has a chance to be fun.


Cornerback (6): Martin Emerson Jr., A.J. Green, Herb Miller, Greg Newsome II, Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams

The bottom of this group is tough. Miller made it here for his special teams work. Green has been working in the slot and it’s hard to see him getting waived if he’s healthy.

Safety (4): D’Anthony Bell, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison Jr., John Johnson III

With Harrison out due to injury on Saturday night, Bell was the third safety and the player who replaced Delpit when he left with a hip injury. It tells me Bell has passed Richard LeCounte III and makes me feel comfortable putting him on this roster.

Specialists (3): Corey Bojorquez (P), Charley Hughlett (LS), Cade York (K)

The only intrigue here went away after the second preseason game when the Browns sent punter Joseph Charlton packing. I know the Muni Lot is fun, but getting to the stadium early to watch York warm up is worth missing out on one last brat and beer.


https://www.cleveland.com/browns/20...t-before-tuesdays-final-roster-cuts.html

Denzel Mims had a good day today with the Jets and he’s almost certainly going to be traded/released.

I’d feel much better about our WR corps if we were Cooper, DPJ, Mims, Beasley, and then went after 1 more guy from FA

j/c...

I thought Wims looked decent.

Same here. He made a few difficult plays. I can’t imagine we’re going to roll with what we have

I think we’ll trade a RB as well. I also understand why they are so steadfast on keeping Schwartz (even though I disagree with it), but at some point that decision will have to be made and I’d rather have us upgrade over him before the season begins

Yeah WR drafting has been poor here in Cleveland for a pretty long time. Who’s the last good WR we’ve drafted?

Compare it to Pittsburgh where they basically churn them out

Put yourself in Berry's shoes. You drafted Schwartz for a reason. You actually spent a high pick on him. He's only going into his second season. You err on the side of he'll get it figured out. That's why you drafted him. Because you have high hopes for the kid. I don't think one mediocre season and one bad off season should necessarily change the long term outlook. Draff picks are made with multiple years in mind.

I'm not saying I 100% agree with it. But I can see the logic behind that, especially if the kid has a good attitude and works hard to get better.

I will say this, though. Drafting wide receivers does not appear to be a strength of Berry and his staff.

We should take a good look at whomever the Steelers or Bengals cut at WR. Just like OL-needy teams will be vulcher-ing over whomever we cut at OL...and maybe even DB

I was looking at the Steelers WRs.
Stephen Sims had 2 TDs and a nice jet sweep for 37 yds.
He is looking up at Johnson , Claypool, Pickens, and Olzecksi
He might be cut

Then the Bengals have 2 young WRs that outplayed Schwartz
This preseason...
Kendric Pryor and Kwame Lassiter...both went over 100 yds
Receiving this preseason. I think Pryor went 13 for 171.

If Berry can't cut Schwartz then his ego is superceding the will
To win. Instead of him saying " I was wrong about Schwartz"
And trying to add a upgrade , he rather look like the smartest
Guy in the room.

Put yourself in Berry's shoes. You drafted Schwartz for a reason. You actually spent a high pick on him. He's only going into his second season. You err on the side of he'll get it figured out. That's why you drafted him. Because you have high hopes for the kid. I don't think one mediocre season and one bad off season should necessarily change the long term outlook. Draff picks are made with multiple years in mind.

I'm not saying I 100% agree with it. But I can see the logic behind that, especially if the kid has a good attitude and works hard to get better.

I will say this, though. Drafting wide receivers does not appear to be a strength of Berry and his staff.