Cleveland Browns: Predicting the 10-man practice squad

The Cleveland Browns cut their roster down to 53 players on Saturday and can begin signing some of them to their practice squad Sunday afternoon, but what 10 players should make the squad?

The best thing about the Cleveland Browns being on ‘Hard Knocks’ is fans get to know some players better and thus begin rooting for them to make the team. The worst thing about being on ‘Hard Knocks‘ is seeing some of those players get cut at the end of the preseason.

On Saturday as the Browns trimmed their roster to 53 players, a couple stars from the show saw their journey come to an end. Tight end Devon Cajuste and quarterback Brogan Roback both were featured on the show and each was cut.

Gone also is defensive end Nate Orchard, who also received time on the HBO series, but wasn’t considered a fan favorite like the charismatic Roback, or Cajuste, who is trying to make the team amid health concerns for his father.

More from Browns Rumors

• One and Done: First year Browns players that didn’t earn a second season
• Baker Mayfield could wind up replacing Tom Brady in Tampa Bay
• DeAndre Hopkins or Brandin Cooks: Who makes sense for the Browns?
• Could the Browns make a run at Jim Harbaugh?
• DeAndre Hopkins to Cleveland Browns rumors have began to swirl on social media

Orchard also has no chance to return to the team’s practice squad as the NFL allows only four players with two accrued seasons on the 10-man squad. Outside of that, the other six have to have less than six games on an active roster and they can only be on the squad for two years.

There are other little odd rules for the squad, but rather than explain all that, let’s look at who the Browns might add to their squad by the time Sunday is over.

Last season the Browns went defense-heavy with their practice squad, but this season we will split our projection right down the middle with five on each side.

On offense, the Browns predicted practice squad will consist of:

Brogan Roback, Quarterback
Matthew Dayes, Running Back
Blake Jackson, Wide Receiver
Devon Cajuste, Tight End
Christian DiLauro, Offensive line

On defense, the Browns predicted practice squad will consist of:

Caleb Brantley, Defensive Tackle
Zaycoven Henderson, Defensive Tackle
B.J. Bello, Linebacker
Simeon Thomas, Defensive Back
Safety Elijah Campbell

Just like with the 53-man roster, these things are never truly final. The Browns have the first claim on the waiver wire, which will lead to many more cuts if utilized. Any player cut on Sunday for a waiver claim may be a higher priority to hit the practice squad than a player cut Saturday.

The Browns could also target cuts from another team as a member of their own practice squad — and other teams could go for the Browns’ cuts.

During the season, teams can also poach players off one another’s practice squad. So while it helps keep these young guys growing in your system, nothing is safe on these units. But at least we could still see some more of Brogan and Cajuste on the squad.