The Cleveland Browns rookies and quarterbacks have reported for training camp and the rest of the team reports this week, let’s look at how the 53 may look.
On Friday the Cleveland Browns rookies, as well as their quarterbacks, reported for training camp as preparation for the 2022 season truly begins. The rest of the players will be in town as practices start on Wednesday in the coming days.
There’s a ton of time, several preseason games, and joint practices between now and the final roster cuts. Let’s look at how I think the final 53-man roster will play out for the Browns when training camp ends in September.
Cleveland Browns 53-man roster prediction
Special Teams
Kicker: Cade York
Punter: Corey Bojorquez
Long Snapper: Charley Hughlett
Returner: Jakeem Grant
Overall Special Teams thoughts
Last year the Browns special teams units were easily some of the worst in the NFL, punting, kicking, and returning were all a problem. General manager Andrew Berry clearly understood this area needed addressing by bringing in a new kicker, punter, and returner through free agency and the draft.
Jakeem Grant feels like an absolute lock for the final roster, he’s a former pro bowl returner and no one else on the roster is consistent in the return game. The only player that may not be a lock for the final roster is Bojorquez, he is not a great or consistent holder in the kicking game.
If Cade York and Bojorquez don’t have a good relationship in the kicking game you could see the Browns go a different direction.
Browns 53-man roster prediction: Offense
Quarterbacks: Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett, Josh Dobbs* (during Watson’s Suspension)
Runningbacks: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, Jerome Ford
Tight ends: David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Miller Forristall
Wide receivers: Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Bell, Anthony Schwartz, Isaiah Weston, (Jakeem Grant)
Offensive Line: Jedrick Wills, Jack Conklin, Wyatt Tellar, Joel Bitonio, Nick Harris, Chris Hubbard, James Hudson, Ethan Pocic, Dawson Deaton, Michael Dunn
Overall Offensive thoughts
Josh Dobbs will only be on the active roster once Deshaun Watson is suspended, so I know that if you count him the roster will equal 54. The Browns have a ton of talent at the offensive line position especially if they are healthy at the top of the depth chart. Keeping 10 offensive linemen may seem like a lot but after all of the injuries last year they have got to make sure they are prepared this year.
Each season you get a surprise guy who makes the roster and this year for me it is rookie wide receiver, Isaiah Weston. The Browns have had a major issue getting vertical the last two seasons, adding Weston to the room with a hopefully improved Anthony Schwartz will help solve that problem.
Cleveland has a great problem with the running back situation but after the top two guys missed time last year I see the Browns playing it safe. Watson will miss time and they need that running back room to be strong while he is out.
Browns 53-man roster prediction: Defense
Edge: Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, Alex Wright, Chase Winovich, Isaiah Thomas, Stephen Weatherly
Defensive tackle: Jordan Elliott, Taven Bryan, Tommy Togiai, Perrion Winfrey
Linebacker: Jacob Phillips, Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Sione Takitaki, Tony Fields
Cornerback: Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Greedy Williams, Martin Emerson, Aj Green, Shaun Jolly
Safety: John Johnson III, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison, Richard LeCounte
Overall defensive thoughts:
The defensive tackle room is very weak and I think they may look to supplement it with an extra edge player. They have four edge players that have experience and the ability to slide inside, and for that reason, they will feel alright with only carrying four defensive tackles into the season.
This defensive backfield for the Browns is likely the deepest position they have and one of the league’s deepest at cornerback. The Browns really need Richard LeCounte to step up as a role player to fill out the back of the safety room. Last year there was some weird off-the-field stuff that lead to missed time, but in the preseason he showed that he good be a nice piece as a third deep safety in Joe Woods’s scheme.
If Jacob Phillips can stay healthy this year next to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who should take a step, they have the skill set to make a great pair. Two really great athletes at linebacker with great instincts and reaction speed, it’ll go a long way against the athletic quarterbacks in the division and the AFC as a whole.
The final 53-man roster is weeks from being set but we are just days away from your Cleveland Browns returning to the field.