The Cleveland Browns are working overtime to fix a roster depleted by continual mismanagement in recent years. How many of the team’s draft picks will be part of the solution?
Ever since they took over operations in Berea, Sashi Brown and Hue Jackson have consistently sent the message that things are changing with the Cleveland Browns.
No longer will the team waste high draft picks on over-hyped quarterbacks, or hand out $9 million severance packages to aging veterans in free agency in an attempt to simultaneously rebuild while also believing they can contend.
Rather, the Browns are going all-in on a youth movement in an attempt finally reverse the fortunes of the club.
“We have to continue to work at it. I never said we were going to be a juggernaut today or yesterday.” – Head coach Hue Jackson
It began in free agency with the team parting ways with Donte Whitner, Karlos Dansby, Brian Hartline and Randy Starks, among others.
It continued during the 2015 NFL Draft, when Brown spent the weekend maneuvering the team into a league-high 14 selections.
It neared its culmination, at least for this season, on Monday with the release of linebacker Paul Kruger and the trade of punter Andy Lee.
When the final roster cut downs start coming in after Saturday’s 6 p.m. deadline, the Browns could be down to as few as five players over the age of 30.
While it seemed impossible to envision the Browns holding onto all 14 of their draft picks just a few months ago, the ongoing desire to embrace the younger players to rebuild a roster that has been neglected for years is becoming more likely with each passing day.
So let’s take a quick rundown through the 14 draft picks and determine just who will be on the 53-man roster come Saturday evening.
Next: Locks to make the team - Part 1
Wide receiver Corey Coleman: Even though he has only played 17 snaps in the preseason due to a hamstring injury, Coleman showed enough in training camp that he will not only make the team but will be a starter from the opening whistle. The days of wasting first-round picks continues to come to an end with Coleman.
Outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah: With Paul Kruger no longer on the roster, Ogbah moves into the starting linebacker role that the Browns envisioned when they drafted him. The team spent most of training camp working Ogbah as a defensive end in the wake of Desmond Bryant’s season-ending injury, but will now revert to the original plan. Hopefully Ogbah is a quick learner.
Defensive end Carl Nassib: The Browns need as many people as possible to put pressure on the quarterback and help out what may be an extremely poor secondary, and through preseason Nassib has kept himself in the middle of the action when he is on the field. He should be in the game on passing situations a lot this fall.
Offensive tackle Shon Coleman: Had he not been recovering from off-season knee surgery, Coleman would have made a stronger push to take over at right tackle. As it currently stands he is third on the depth chart, but that should change over time. Even if Coleman has limited opportunities to get on the field this season, he is too talented to risk losing.
Quarterback Cody Kessler: With all the problems the Browns have along the roster, especially on defense, they really should not be taking the luxury of keeping a third quarterback on the team. Kessler still needs to develop his game before he can even be considered a viable NFL quarterback, and will only see the field this fall during his mandated Week 17 start or when Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown go down with injuries, whichever comes first. Still, the NFL is a starved for quarterbacks, so if the Browns tried to move Kessler to the practice squad there is little doubt that someone will pick him up.
Next: Locks to make the team - Part 2
Linebacker Joe Schobert: The first of the draft picks to be in line for the practice squad, Schobert has gained the most from Kruger’s release. The only other backup at outside linebacker currently on the roster is Cam Johnson, who has eight career tackles in 16 games over his four-year career. If the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year in 2015 can’t beat out Johnson for a spot, then something is wrong.
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Safety Derrick Kindred: The Browns are not particularly strong or deep at the safety position. While Ibraheim Campbell looks solid, the rest of the depth chart shows Jordan Poyer, Rahim Moore and cornerback Pierre Desir (who for some reason isn’t playing cornerback under defensive coordinator Ray Horton). Kindred may be a similar player to Campbell in that he likes to hit but has a lot to learn in coverage, but a willingness to hit the opposing team is a good quality to have in the AFC North.
Offensive lineman Spencer Drango: Currently listed as the second-team right tackle, Drango offers the versatility to move inside to guard in case something happens to John Greco or Joel Bitonio. The Browns need quality depth on the offensive line and Drango’s versatility is appealing.
Wide receiver Rashard Higgins: The Browns invested heavily in the wide receiver position in the draft, and while Higgins wasn’t selected until the fifth round, he was highly productive in college. Cleveland didn’t select four wide receivers on draft weekend only to have Coleman be the lone one to make the final roster.
Next: Not a lock, but still a good chance
Wide receiver Jordan Payton: The 6-foot-1 and 207-pound Payton has the size to hold up in the AFC North and the productivity after finishing his collegiate career as UCLA’s leader in career receptions. He missed a good portion of the off-season as he was not allowed to practice while UCLA was finishing the school year, which has set him back. Payton has also only been targeted three times during the preseason – all against Atlanta – so his development may not be as far along as the Browns were hoping. If he can have a good showing Thursday night against the Bears, he may be able to grab a roster spot, especially if the Browns are worried about exposing him to waivers.
Cornerback Trey Caldwell: The Browns are such a mess at cornerback that Caldwell may make the team simply because they need bodies. If the Browns decide to release Tramon Williams because of his age, or Justin Gilbert because of his lack of ability, then Caldwell could be in line to take a roster spot.
Next: Practice squad candidates
Tight end Seth DeValve: The man out of Princeton has struggled with a hamstring injury and has only been targeted one time in the preseason. The Browns are not exactly loaded at tight end behind Gary Barnidge, so anything is possible at this position.
Wide receiver Ricardo Louis: A raw talent as a wide receiver after coming out of Auburn’s run-heavy offense, Louis has been limited by a hamstring injury during training camp. (Whatever happen to the notion that Jackson’s “tough training camp” was going to eliminate those soft-tissue injuries?) Louis might have a tough time sticking on the final roster, but will certainly be a player the Browns will look to get on the practice squad.
Linebacker Scooby Wright: Wright has done little in the preseason to be in consideration for a roster spot as he is still working his way back from injuries that ruined his senior year at Arizona. A year on the practice squad, which will allow him more time to heal, seems like the proper course of action for Wright.
So there it is: nine of the 14 draft picks look to be locks for the final roster, with another two selections having at least a fighting chance. That may have been hard to believe a few months ago, but it seems more likely given the way that the preseason has gone.
Next: Paul Kruger's release reflects youth movement
The final roster selections are still a few days away, but Brown and Jackson are sending out a message that is crystal clear.
With 14 draft picks this year and another dozen (and counting) for next year, they did not inherit a roster loaded with talent and are doing everything can to fix the problem.