Do the Cleveland Browns really have the NFL’s best roster?
By Sam Penix
![Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) gets his team fired up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns 15 2](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F15323401-850x560-c5709df25adc2a56b2da6caff3556e80fed8819439ef069980e104a9edbe95b3.jpg "Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) gets his team fired up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns 15 2")
San Francisco 49ers
RB – Decent
Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson both benefit from playing in perhaps the league’s most running back-friendly scheme, but they perform well in their given roles.
WR – Good
Deebo Samuel is a versatile weapon, and Brandon Aiyuk seems to be exactly what the team was hoping for when they took him 25th overall last year. Richie James and Trent Taylor are capable depth targets.
TE – Elite
George Kittle is the best tight end in the NFL, and Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner are solid backups.
OL – Great
Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey form one of the NFL’s best tackle duos. Laken Tomlinson is a solid starter at left guard, and the team signed longtime stud Alex Mack to play center this season. Daniel Brunskill will likely move to right guard, giving San Francisco one of the best lines in the league, which will be helpful for whichever rookie quarterback is starting in 2021.
DT – Decent
The decision to keep Arik Armstead over DeForest Buckner was a puzzling one at the time, and Buckner’s absence was felt in 2020.
Rookie Javon Kinlaw had a rough rookie campaign, but defensive tackle is difficult for rookies to adjust to, so he should be better moving forward. D.J Jones, Kentavius Street, and Kevin Givens are best suited as reserves, but new signing Zach Kerr is a quality all-around player that bumps this group up from the poor tier.
EDGE – Good
Nick Bosa is terrific, and will hopefully be fully recovered from his injury by the time the season begins. As mentioned above, Armstead is not a bad player, but he’s not the disruptive presence that Buckner is. Dee Ford also went down in Week 1, and the Niners will be hoping he can recapture his 2018 form.
LB – Great
Dre Greenlaw has gone from a 2019 fifth-rounder to a quality starter, and he plays alongside Fred Warner, who may be taking the crown of NFL’s best linebacker from Bobby Wagner at some point over the next few seasons.
CB – Decent
A healthy Jason Verrett was a revelation in 2020, but aside from him and slot K’Wuan Williams, there isn’t a whole lot else at the position. Emmanuel Moseley and Dontae Johnson don’t inspire much confidence as a CB2, let alone a CB1 in the case of another Verrett injury.
S – Good
Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt form a solid starting tandem, but there is also some nice depth in this room with Tarvarius Moore and Tavon Wilson.