Browns 53-man roster prediction after Preseason Week 1

The Cleveland Browns beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first week of the preseason and now we can predict who makes the 53-man roster to start the season

On Friday night, the Cleveland Browns had their first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They got the win but it wasn’t a pretty outing for their starters.

Deshaun Watson was just 1-of-5 passing and Anthony Schwartz had two drops. They also lost their starting center, Nick Harris, for the year to a knee injury, which was suffered on the second play of the game.

With the dust from that game settled, we take a shot at predicting which players will be on the 53-man roster when Cleveland takes the field against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 of the 2022 season.

Browns 53-man roster prediction after Preseason Week 1

Quarterback (2):

Jacoby Brissett
Josh Dobbs

Deshaun Watson will be sidelined for at least six games — and it will probably be more than that. With him out, Jacoby Brissett is going to be the starter. We have yet to see him play in a Browns uniform as they went with Watson to start their first preseason game before turning it over to Josh Dobbs and Josh Rosen.

Dobbs played very well against the Jaguars and did enough to prove they don’t need Rosen. Perhaps he can be on the practice squad but there’s no reason to fear turning things over to Dobbs should Brissett suffer an injury.

As for Brissett, the staff feels good enough about him that they haven’t pulled the trigger on a trade for someone such as Jimmy Garoppolo. There has been talk that such discussions took place but with the first preseason game behind them, it seems as though this is the group they’re going to roll with.

Deshaun Watson starts on the suspended list

Running Back (5):

Nick Chubb
Kareem Hunt
D’Ernest Johnson
Jerome Ford
Johnny Stanton

The top three spots seem secure at running back for the Browns — barring a trade that is. Nick Chubb continues to be a stud and has a shot at being the top rusher in the NFL this season. The only thing that could stop him from doing this is the fact that there are so many capable backs who can keep him rested.

Kareem Hunt continues to be second on the depth chart and while he’s asked for a trade, Cleveland seems uninterested in doing so. He should once again get plenty of opportunities, even if this ends up being his final season with the orange and brown.

Third is D’Ernest Johnson, who actually started against the Jags. He had a game to forget, finishing with no yards and a fumble, but he’s proven to be a gamer who can get it done when called upon.

Jerome Ford had the best game of anyone on the team against Jacksonville, leading the Browns in both rushing and receiving yards. He also scored a touchdown on the ground and through the air.

Ford would get more chances on most other rosters but he could be in line to be the No. 2 guy behind Chubb in 2023.

Lastly, Johnny Stanton makes the team as the lone fullback. He showed off his ability as a receiver once again on Friday, catching a 20-yard reception. He’s not only a solid blocker but he can line up as a tight end in a pinch as well, which helps him make the roster.

Wide Receiver (6):

Amari Cooper
Donovan Peoples-Jones
David Bell
Demetric Felton
Michael Woods
Anthony Schwartz

Most of the wide receivers that will make the Browns 53-man roster hardly saw the field — if at all — on Friday night. Amari Cooper didn’t play nor did either rookies David Bell or Michael Woods. Bell and Cooper could have suited up but were held out anyway while Woods, who has been standing out in camp, was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

That left Cleveland with Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz as the starters. They were less than impressive as Schwartz dropped two passes and the only time DPJ’s name was mentioned was when he was called for offensive holding which negated a four-yard run on first down from John Kelly.

Demetric Felton is listed as a running back but he’s been playing more as a slot receiver, and that’s where he was on Friday night for the Browns. He had one pass come his way, which was underthrown by Deshaun Watson, although it would have been a short gain on third and incredibly long.

Still, their issues with Schwartz help him make the team and he will probably end up being the fourth option at receiver while also serving as the primary return man.

There’s still a chance Cleveland can add a veteran and if the current corps of receivers continue to struggle, they might need to.

Tight End(3):

David Njoku
Harrison Bryant
Nakia Griffin-Stewart

The only player to actually catch a pass from Deshaun Watson on Friday night was tight end David Njoku. It was nothing to write home about as it was a simple seven-yard gain on 1st-and-20, but it was still the best play for the starting unit in this one.

Njoku was on the outs not too long ago when Cleveland added Austin Hooper and drafted Harrison Bryant but now, he’s their top tight end. He was given a huge extension not long after being hit with the franchise tag and big things are expected of him.

Bryant is still on the roster as well and moves from No. 3 to No. 2 after Hooper’s release. He should be able to take the next step as a pro this season and has a bright future in the NFL.

As for the third spot, this is a position that’s been up for grabs to this point. On Friday, Nakia Griffin-Stewart put himself in the lead. A former undrafted free agent who spent time at Rutgers and Pittsburgh, Griffen-Stewart has yet to record an offensive statistic in the NFL.

In two seasons, he played for the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Kansas City Chiefs. Now in his third season, he looks to catch on with the Browns and he was the highest-graded offensive player in Week 1.

Griffen-Stewart had three receptions for 37 yards as he put himself in the lead for the third spot on the roster.

Offensive Line (9):

Jedrick Wills
Joel Bitonio
Ethan Pocic
Wyatt Teller
Jack Conklin
James Hudson
Chris Hubbard
Blake Hance
Dawson Deaton

The offensive line took a massive blow on just the second play of the night when Nick Harris went down with a knee injury. He was carted off the field and will likely miss the entire 2022 season, which means Ethan Pocic moves to the starting center role.

Once again, injuries have haunted this O-line as they had to find ways to replace Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills at various points of the season in 2021. Wills played through the pain as the season went on but an ankle injury suffered early in the year really slowed him down.

Conklin was playing at an elite level but suffered a torn patellar tendon. That’s a rough injury to come back from but he’s proven to be tough and should be able to bounce back. Still, there has to be some concern since James Hubbard struggled in his place last year. Chris Hubbard is a better option but he too has been dealing with injuries in recent years.

Their guards are great in Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller and they have a solid backup in Blake Hance — who has also filled in at tackle. Dawson Deaton earns the final spot as the rookie is suddenly their No. 2 center following the Harris injury.

Nick Harris on IR

Defensive Line (10):

Myles Garrett
Jordan Elliott
Taven Bryan
Jadeveon Clowney
Chase Winovich
Isaiah Thomas
Perrion Winfrey
Tommy Togiai
Sheldon Day
Alex Wright

The defensive ends for Cleveland are arguably some of the best in the game. Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney are two former No. 1 overall picks and combined for 25 sacks in 2021 — which was their first year working together.

Clowney returned on a one-year deal and the Browns added even more talent behind them. Chase Winovich was picked up in a trade with the New England Patriots and had 11 sacks in his first two seasons while playing on the edge.

Two rookies join the ranks as well in third-round pick Alex Wright and seventh-rounder Isaiah Thomas. Wright had some issues on Friday but Thomas recorded two sacks and a tackle for a loss on a run play, showing he can be a disruptive force.

As deep as they are on the edge, they have plenty of questions about the interior.

Taven Bryan and Jordan Elliott are expected to start but neither has been a stud to this point in their respective careers. As for their reserves, Tommy Togiai and Perrion Winfrey both have talent but were mid-round picks for a reason. Winfrey is a player many fans were excited about but he didn’t stand out in his debut.

The unit is rounded out with Sheldon Day who is a seasoned vet that can play both inside and out. He might not be a superstar but he won’t hurt the team either, which is why he’s worth keeping around.

Linebacker (5):

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Jacob Phillips
Anthony Walker
Sione Takitaki
Dakota Allen

The Browns don’t go deep at linebackers in this prediction, bringing just five of them to the 53-man roster. They typically use just two on the field as defensive coordinator Joe Woods loves to go with three safeties for the most part. Because of this, they can go heavy at other spots while keeping a couple of linebackers on the practice squad in case of emergency.

As for their starters, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is an absolute lock. He started to really come on strong late in his rookie season last year and can be a major problem for opposing offenses. He’s capable against both the run and pass and can even get after the quarterback on the blitz.

Next to him will be Jacob Phillips, who seems to have overtaken Anthony Walker as the middle linebacker. Phillips has been all over the ball carrier when on the field but he struggles with health. As for Walker, he won’t blow anyone away but he’s a smart veteran and everyone on the team loves him. He’s still going to get a lot of snaps.

Sione Takitaki is fourth and continues to do his job with very little fanfare. He’s great on special teams and never seems to miss tackles. He won’t produce highlight-reel plays but he’s smart and does his job.

Last is Dakota Allen who played really well against the Jags. He showed discipline against the run and could be an option as a SAM linebacker.

Cornerback (5):

Denzel Ward
Greg Newsome
Greedy Williams
Martin Emerson
A.J. Green

While the running back corps is the strength of the Browns roster, the cornerback room isn’t too far behind. Denzel Ward was the No. 4 overall pick in 2018 and has developed into one of the best in the game.

They added Greg Newsome II in the first round last season and he’s already looking like a stud. He might not generate a ton of turnovers but he has the ability to mirror receivers and shut them down.

Cleveland continued to show a commitment to this position by not only using a first-round pick on both Ward and Newsome but they used their first selections in 2019 and 2022 on cornerbacks as well. In 2019, that pick came in Round 2, where they found Greedy Williams. A shoulder injury cost him his second season but overall, Williams has been a good player for the Browns.

This year, their first pick didn’t come until Round 3 but they again found a possible contributor in Martin Emerson who had a great first game, recording a pick-six on the play of the night.

As good as Emerson looks, there’s no guarantee he will unseat A.J. Green. The former undrafted free agent from Oklahoma State has performed at a high level whenever called upon.

He had 21 tackles, six pass defenses, and an interception last season. Whether it’s Green or Emerson as the No. 5 cornerback, this unit has to feel comfortable with their chances of slowing down any passing attack in the league.

Safety (5):

John Johnson III
Grant Delpit
Ronnie Harrison
Richard LeCounte
D’Anthony Bell

Cleveland added John Johnson III in free agency last season and he started the season off slow. He wound up coming around and by the end of the season, he was one of the better defenders on the field for the Browns. He was also asked to play in deep coverage more than you would like to see since he’s better playing closer to the line.

Grant Delpit can handle this role better and now that he has a full year under his belt after missing his rookie season due to an Achilles injury, he should be able to line up at free safety. That would help everyone in the secondary improve this year — and that’s saying something considering it was already a strength of the team.

Behind them is Ronnie Harrison, who should again see the field a lot in his hybrid linebacker/safety role. Harrison had some issues last year when it came to penalties, which made it a bit surprising to see him come back on a one-year deal. Still, this staff knows he can play at a high level when he’s focused, which is what they’re banking on.

The final two spots belong to Richard LeCounte and D’Anthony Bell. LeCounte is entering his second season and has a lot to like but suffered an injury late in his collegiate career in an automobile accident that affected his draft status.

Bell stood out in their win over the Jags as he punched the ball out to force a turnover late in the game.

The final safety spot is up for grabs and Javonte Moffat was recently added to the roster. He has experience in this defense but if Bell continues to play as he did in his debut, he could end up knocking him out of his spot.

Specialists (3):

Cade York
Corey Bojorquez
Charley Hughlett

The one man who seemed to hold things together for Cleveland in Week 1 was Cade York. The LSU product was perfect on the night, knocking in three extra points and his lone field goal attempt. He also booted the ball out of the end zone when asked to on kickoffs and put the ball in position for the special teams players to get some work in when that was required.

Sure, it was just a standard day for a kicker but for the Browns, nothing about the kicking game has been easy in recent years. York, who was picked up in Round 4 of the 2022 NFL Draft, didn’t have any long attempts on the night but he also did everything that was asked of him — which is huge. There’s no competition for him and that’s not a bad thing since he seems up to the job.

As for the punter, that should be Cory Bojorquez who has a powerful leg. He showed that off with a 63-yard punt on Friday night but Joseph Charlton also proved to be a solid option as well. Whoever they go with should be able to handle the job but right now, it feels like the job belongs to Bojorquez.

Charley Hughlett again holds down the long snapping job and he simply gets it done every time. His position is a thankless one, but he does it with class and should continue to play for this team for several more years.