Didn't want to start a new thread and was unsure where to put this, but it could lead to good conversation. Checking out the link will allow you to see the charts and make this easier to read.
Predicting The Cleveland Browns 53-Man RosterByJACK DUFFIN Mar 24, 1:05 PM
In this article, we are going to look at who the Cleveland Browns currently have under contract for every position room, some final free agency names they might add as well as who are the most likely guys to make the final 53-man roster.
There is going to be competition across the roster for who makes the final team which is really healthy because it will get the best out of the players plus if someone goes down injured there is a solid player behind them rather than having a giant hole in the team.
At the time of writing, we are still waiting on contracts for Josh Dobbs, Marquise Goodwin and Anthony Walker. A player's status is more dictated by guarantees than what they offer as a rotational or special teamer. I would believe Goodwin is on the veteran salary benefit but we won't know this until the numbers are released.
No free agency is coming to a close I will dig into the draft more and start providing you with some more information on likely players they target over the coming month.
Below is the current Cleveland Browns roster as of today and their status as where I see it on the team.
Locks - Players who I have 99% confidence will be on the final 53-man roster unless they are traded
Bubble - Players who are fighting to make the final team, those that don't might get picked up by other teams on waivers rather than making it to the Browns practice squad
Practice Squad Candidates - These players are unlikely to make the final 53-man roster and instead are trying to show enough that they can make the practice squad and continue developing
CURRENT SALARY CAP SPACE
The Cleveland Browns current cap space stands at $8,963,016
Here are the moves that have happened:
Watson Restructure +$35,936,000
Tomlinson $4,288,177
Thornhill $2,264,000
Okoronkwo $2,180,000
Pocic $2,064,000
Akins $1,565,000
Ford $1,500,000
Green $1,400,000
TakiTaki $1,232,500
Kunaszyk & Adams $1,092,500
Hill $1,055,618
Hurst $940,000
Still waiting on final contract structures for Dobbs, Goodwin & Walker.
Based on the Cleveland Browns' current draft picks they only require $1,186,237 of cap space to sign their rookies so this should easily be achievable.
Here is a list of potential restructures and an explanation of how they work. I wouldn't expect them to do one of these unless they really need to.
Cooper +$15.068m
Garrett +$12.936m
Teller +$9.136m
Bitonio +$7.868m
Chubb +$7.816m
On June 2nd the Browns will gain an additional $9.75m of cap space for John Johnson and $1.165m for Jadeveon Clowney. It is no issue waiting for this space as they will need a fund of $5-10m for injuries and the practice squad so this coming later is fine.
REMAINING CASH BUDGET
This offseason, I have written on how tracking cash spend is a good way to see how much else Andrew Berry is likely to do. Here is the initial article explaining why this is so useful. The projected number looks back at how Andrew Berry has operated in past years so explains why defensive tackle is so low and you will increase due to more investment there.
To give an example of how this would work; if they sign Calais Campbell for $5m a year, he would likely replace Jordan Elliott's $2,743,000 so it would be $2,257,000 net.
I have factored in $2.5m for Walker and $2m for Dobbs but we don't have finalized contract numbers yet so this could move around slightly.
They might look close to their maximum spend but they can continue upgrading the team especially if they are willing to move off of Elliott, Bryant, and Haeg which each free up space if replaced by a rookie or minimum contract player.
QUARTERBACK
Locks
Watson
Dobbs
Bubble
Mond
Practice Squad Candidate
N/A
Potential Free Agency Names
N/A
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 6-7
This room is more or less set now, with Dobbs having a guaranteed deal to back up Watson. I would expect them to roll into next season with just the two quarterbacks because rostering a third one would likely come at the expense of a special teams linebacker and it doesn't seem like this is something they are willing to do now.
They might try to get Mond to the practice squad but there is a chance another team will snap him up.
Final 53
Watson
Dobbs
RUNNING BACK
Locks
Chubb
Ford
Bubble
N/A
Practice Squad Candidate
Kelly
McCrary
Potential Free Agency Names
Jerick McKinnon
Darrel Williams
Latavius Murray
Justin Jackson
Ty Johnson
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 4-7
Chubb is locked in as your starter but I worry about relying on Jerome Ford to be your backup running back because if Chubb goes down in camp and misses the first four weeks of the season can he be relied on as the main guy for that stretch. During the 2022 season, he played in 14 offensive snaps with a stat line of 8 carries for 12 yards and 0 targets. His being on the sideline when the season was over and watching Hunt playing was incredibly frustrating as it was the perfect opportunity to see what they had.
I don't want to spend on a backup running back but if they can use the veteran salary benefit to get someone cheap who has experience such as a Jerick McKinnon or Latavius Murray then it would be a really nice floor if injury strikes. This certainly wouldn't stop Ford from beating them out in camp but I would rather make it a challenge than give him the role.
Then it seems like a lock they will add a running back during the draft, Deuce Vaughn is a direction they could go. Rookie running backs are usually very young and athletic so expect lots of names to show positively on my age & RAS guardrails board.
Final 53
Chubb
Free Agent
Ford
Rookie
WIDE RECEIVER
Locks
Cooper
Peoples-Jones
Moore
Bell
Bubble
Woods
Goodwin
Schwartz
Felton
Grant
Darden
Practice Squad Candidate
Baldwin
Stevenson
Harley
Weston
Potential Free Agency Names
N/A
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 3-7
I would say the first four names are all locks for the roster and Cooper now has a shot at seeing his final two years out in Cleveland. They likely try to get an extension done with Peoples-Jones in June/July time. Moore has to play one more year before he can get around the negotiating table with the team. Bell showed a little bit in year one and keen to see what he can bring to the table in year two.
The Goodwin move is interesting to work out as it could go many different directions. My first thought is that Grant is knocked off the bottom of the roster but it could also be an indication that they don't think Woods is going to have a long term future with the team. There is a complete wildcard that they are looking to potentially trade DPJ and don't view him as a long term player here with the focus being on adding as much speed as possible.
They could then go ahead and draft someone which would then mean Goodwin, Woods and Grant are battling it out for one spot. We have no idea where Grant is at health-wise, he took a pay cut instead of being cut so he certainly isn't entering camp from a position of strength.
Final 53
Cooper
Peoples-Jones
Moore
Bell
Goodwin
Rookie
TIGHT END
Locks
Njoku
Akins
Bubble
Bryant
Practice Squad Candidate
Mitchell-Paden
Potential Free Agency Names
N/A
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 3-7
I have believed all offseason they would look to move on from Byrant as has been a nice player but not one you would want to pay $2.7m to for 2023. They might look for a Mack Wilson/Chase Winovich-style trade where they swap him with another team's bubble player in the final year of a rookie deal or they could look to cut him as we get closer to a final 53 and know there have been no injury issues.
It will be important to add a rookie tight end as they take a year to develop and they have an out in Njoku's deal of $10m for 2024 as well as the option to move off of Akin's saving $2m. So getting a young player who can develop behind them in 2023 is ideal.
Final 53
Njoku
Akins
Rookie
TACKLE
Locks
Wills
Conklin
Hudson
Bubble
Haeg
Practice Squad Candidate
Wheatley
Potential Free Agency Names
N/A
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 3-7
The two starters are locked in and I expect Wills's 5th-year option to be picked up before the 1st of May. This will make him a below-average costing left tackle at $14,175,000. While he is only providing average play it gives them two years to work out a long-term plan at left tackle because an extension feels unlikely.
Hudson is now a lock, he was only on the bubble encase they added a veteran swing tackle, now this has passed I expect him to be safe for the swing tackle position.
I expect them to draft a left tackle potentially as high as pick 74 because if you have someone who you believe might be an 8-10 year answer at the position then you grab them and have 1-2 years to develop them to replace Wills.
Don't be surprised if Haeg is around until the end of camp as injuries to Conklin will remain a concern. They could then be able to trade him off so they aren't left with $500,000 of dead cap as teams will always have the need for swing tackles, multiple teams offered him when the Browns did the deal last year.
Final 53
Wills
Conklin
Hudson
Rookie
GUARD
Locks
Bitonio
Teller
Bubble
Forbes
Deaton
Practice Squad Candidate
N/A
Potential Free Agency Names
Michael Dunn
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 3-7
The two starters are locked in but they could look to move on from Teller next offseason so this might come into play with how they build the room.
While Forbes is okay they might want another veteran to be the third guard, Michael Dunn would be a prime candidate. They didn't offer him the $2.7m restricted free-agent tender but that wouldn't stop them from bringing him back on a cheaper deal.
What they do in the draft will give us a big indication of how they view Deaton. If they add someone he is likely to be forced off the roster but if they don't then it leaves him a nice route to develop as the team's fourth guard for the 2023 season.
Final 53
Bitonio
Teller
Free Agent/Forbes
Deaton
CENTER
Locks
Pocic
Bubble
Harris
Practice Squad Candidate
N/A
Potential Free Agency Names
N/A
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 5-7
Pocic is locked in as the starter and there is a good chance Harris is kept on for his final rookie contract season as the backup. They could look to bring Deaton over here and add a guard in the draft because he would have three rookie years left versus one for Harris.
While there is the chance they draft someone I don't know if we see it in 2023, because Pocic has two guaranteed years before a team option to get out of the deal for the 2025 season. I would assume they look to draft a center next offseason and then start developing him to fill that role after Pocic.
Final 53
Pocic
Harris
EDGE DEFENDER
Locks
Garrett
Okornkwo
Wright
Bubble
Thomas
Practice Squad Candidate
Kamara
Potential Free Agency Names
Justin Houston
Melvin Ingram
Carlos Dunlap
Trey Flowers
Shaq Lawson
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 3-7
While I would really like to see another free agent addition here to strengthen the room I'm not sure it happens. Personally, I would even add a cheaper name like Trey Flowers or Shaq Lawson to force Thomas out of the room, even if it is a camp battle between the pair to see who wins the roster spot.
I will discuss a defensive line free agent addition under defensive tackle who could be of use to the edge room on obvious run plays when you want a pure run-stuffer rather than a pass rusher like Okornkwo.
I think we might only see one defensive line draft pick but if they can work out a way to bring in two then it would be smart to take advantage of the strength of the draft.
Final 53
Garrett
Okornkwo
Wright
Rookie
Thomas/Cheap Free Agent
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Locks
Tomlinson
Winfrey
Bubble
Elliott
Hurst
Hill
Stille
Togiai
Practice Squad Candidate
Perry
Dwumfour
Potential Free Agency Names
Calais Campbell
Matt Ioannidis
Shelby Harris
Chris Wormley
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 3-7
Personally, I think the best realistic player the Browns could add that would complete free agency would be Matt Ioannidis or Calais Campbell which would be around $5-6m for a one year deal.
If they want a cheaper defensive tackle then Chris Wormley could be a really cheap one-year deal. He might start the season on PUP but then you have upside and an extra body joining the team.
The issue with drafting defensive tackles is that the rookie year is mostly a write-off as they develop physically to be ready for the NFL. That is why I would be happy rolling with cheap veterans in the position room who have proven they can perform in the NFL than almost red-shirting a player for a year as your 4th defensive tackle.
They can then let Hurst and Hill battle it out with Togiai for the fourth defensive tackle position. Moving on from Elliott makes a lot of sense considering he is due $2.7m this year.
Final 53
Tomlinson
Ioannidis
Winfrey
Hill/Hurst
LINEBACKER
Locks
Walker
Owusu-Koramoah
Takitaki
Kunaszyk
Bubble
Fields
Adams
Phillips
Practice Squad Candidate
Jackson
Potential Free Agency Names
Reggie Ragland
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 3-7
The top three starters are now locked in with Walker, Owusu-Koramoah, and Takitaki. The question is going to be how long it takes for Takitaki to come back from his injury. This could be 4-9 weeks depending on how they use the PUP list if he isn't ready for week one. For this reason, I would be keen to add Ragland just as a solid depth veteran.
The contract for Adams includes $300,000 of guarantees which makes him very likely to make the final 53-man roster but I wouldn't call it a 99% certainly lock just yet. I would assume Fields is effectively now your Takitaki cover until he is healthy as he won't take a roster spot if he starts the season on the PUP list.
Kunaszyk's contract includes $500,000 of guarantees so he is locked in to make the roster as a special teams player rather than a pure linebacker.
Final 53
Walker
Owusu-Koramoah
Takitaki
Rookie
Adams
Kunaszyk
CORNERBACK
Locks
Ward
Newsome
Emerson
Green
Ford
Bubble
Graham
Practice Squad Candidate
N/A
Potential Free Agency Names
N/A
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 5-7
The top five names are all locked in on the roster due to their guarantees. Since Ford has $925,000 in guarantees there is no route where he would get cut. This means Graham feels unlikely to make the final 53 based on where we are at currently. Ford can play slot corner if you need him to cover injury but he isn't your starter there and that is likely to remain with Newsome.
I can see them adding another cornerback later in the draft too, this might be a versatile corner who can potentially start in the slot in 2024 if he develops well. But they could stick to their more common philosophy of 5 corners and 5 safeties which would mean no draft picks here.
Final 53
Ward
Newsome
Emerson
Green
Ford
Rookie
SAFETY
Locks
Thornhill
Delpit
Bubble
Bell
Practice Squad Candidate
Bolden
Potential Free Agency Names
Joshua Kalu
Andrew Adams
DeAndre Houston-Carson
Rodney McLeod
Potential Draft Addition
Rounds 3-7
I think it would be risky to go into the 2023 season with only two proven safeties on the roster so replacing Ronnie Harrison with a proven veteran option like Kalu or McLeod would be a smart move. It also means if Delpit struggles for a stretch they have a legitimate option to bring in plus for three safety sets.
Where they have signed CB Mike Ford he is likely to be a special teams defensive back which takes away a large part of the role D'Anthony Bell had last season. So keeping 6 corners and 4 safeties would make it hard for him to make the final 53-man roster. I wouldn't rule them out not drafting a corner this year though, so what they do in the draft will have a significant impact on how the defensive backs balance out.
I think it would be smart and highly likely for them to add a safety in this draft because Delpit hits free agency next season so adding a rookie who can hopefully develop into this role gives you much-needed options next offseason. While they might like Delpit they can't keep everyone so he might be one they try and turn into a compensation pick by allowing more free agents to leave than they re-sign.
Final 53
Thornhill
Delpit
FA
Rookie
SPECIAL TEAMS
Locks
York
Bojoquez
Hughlett
Bubble
N/A
Practice Squad Candidate
N/A
Potential Draft Addition
N/A
This room shouldn't be changing this offseason so expect them to run it back unchanged. The key difference in 2023 special teams will come from the other roles like improved gunners etc.
Final 53
York
Bojoquez
Hughlett
HOW MANY ANDREW BERRY DRAFT PICKS GET CUT IN 2023
People have said Andrew never cuts his draft picks but part of this comes from inheriting a roster that had several nice starters but really lacked depth. Over several off seasons he has added more depth and this means draft picks will continue to get pushed off the bottom of the roster. Here are the draft picks who are getting cut/traded this offseason as they continue adding talent:
WR Schwartz
WR Felton
TE Bryant
DT Elliott
DT Togiai
LB Phillips
LB Fields
Plus WR Woods & ED Thomas who I have as 50/50 change of being cut
CASH SPEND STATUS
So based on my projected final 53 man roster we would be spending $260,145,290 in cash on the final 53 which is more or less identical to my projection of $259,419,200 at 115.4% of the 2022 NFL salary cap.
Where it has some projections for Walker's, Goodwin's & Dobb's contract it will end up very close to what we see for the season. The one thing to keep in mind is a DPJ extension which would see a significant jump in his 2023 cash despite not moving the salary cap this year very much.
FINAL 53
Here is my predicted 53-man roster for the Cleveland Browns
Key
14
COMMENTS
Green - A Free Agent addition
Yellow - A camp battle that is too close to call currently
Blue - A rookie pick
https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland...ns-53-Man-Roster-207120421/#207120421_18
