Cleveland Browns: Aggressively early look at 53-man 2021 roster

Jan 17, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) runs the ball as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward (35) defends during the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 10, 2021; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) runs away from Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Mack Wilson (51) in the fourth quarter of an AFC Wild Card playoff game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Linebacker:

Linebacker is another position where you could see a ton of changes in 2021. Right now, I have the team keeping seven guys active each week, but that could certainly go to six as Joe Woods gets more and more comfortable each week.

The easy ones to count on making the roster next season. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK), Anthony Walker, and Jacob Phillips will all be active on Sunday. I see these three getting most of the defensive snaps next year, and for this group to be much improved.

After that, I see rookie fifth-round pick, Tony Fields, Mack Wilson, Malcolm Smith, and Sione Takitaki possibly all making the roster. If the Browns only have six active linebackers, look for it to come down to Smith or Takitaki, and it all depends on who has the better camp. Smith provides experience, but Takitaki has a long career ahead of him.

Guys like Elijah Lee and Georg Obinna will likely struggle to make the roster with the additions of JOK and Fields in the 2021 draft.

This is a position that has struggled with injuries in the past, so I expect Woods to carry seven in the beginning, and then lower it to six before the end of the year.