Way too early prediction of the Cleveland Browns 53 man roster
By Mitch Zoloty
Wide Receivers
Absolute Locks:
Odell Beckham Jr
Jarvis Landry
50/50 Chance They’re In:
Donovan Peoples-Jones
Rashard Higgins
Taywan Taylor
Damion Ratley
Possibly Practice Squad:
Ja’Marcus Bradley
Tony Brown
Outside Looking In:
Jojo Natson
The Browns wide receiver situation will be arguably the most interesting part of the team to watch. It seems like they are probably going to only roll with four on the roster. Usually, teams go with six, but when you’re carrying a fullback and depth at other positions, you’re going to need to make some cuts.
In Stefanski’s offense, you’re not going to see more than four wide receivers play in a game. Plus, the Browns should feel more than confident in throwing Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Kareem Hunt, or even Harrison Bryant out wide if necessary in a five-wide formation.
This receivers core is going to feature Odell Beckham Jr and Jarvis Landry receiving the vast majority of the snaps. They’re both absolute locks to be on the Browns in 2020 and both extremely viable fantasy football options. After the two, though, things get interesting. My gut feeling is to say that Rashard Higgins is talented enough to beat out everyone else, so he will be the third wide receiver.
Now, the new regime could keep Donovan Peoples-Jones over Taywan Taylor and Damion Ratley, because he’s their guy. This wide receiver class was stacked, and Peoples-Jones is a great player. He probably snatches up the fourth receiver spot. If there is a fifth, which I don’t think there will be, it will be between Taywan Taylor and Damion Ratley, and I’d go with Taywan Taylor in that situation.
Jojo Natson seems to be only a returner, and D’Ernest Johnson and Donovan Peoples-Jones could be his main competition for that spot. Ja’Marcus Bradley and Tony Brown are undrafted free agents, so I could see them on the practice squad. Everyone else is going to struggle to find their homes in Cleveland’s small wide receiver room.