Cleveland Browns: 6 biggest surprises from release of depth chart

Cody Parkey, K

Why’s this a surprise? The Browns used one of their valuable draft picks to select a kicker late in the 2017 NFL Draft named Zane Gonzalez.  By all accounts, both rookie Zane Gonzalez and incumbent starter Cody Parkey have played about equally.

What’s not a surprise is Jackson’s methodology in the first depth chart It’s Parkey’s job, and Z-Gon is going to have to take it from him.

Starting Parkey puts pressure on the former Pro Bowler. He can’t go out there and stink muff kicks, because he knows Zane is waiting in the wings.

Meanwhile, Zane isn’t being given anything in the form of a starting job. It must be earned.

This positional battle will continue to be one to watch throughout the preseason because the Browns analytically oriented front office is so crazy about their draft picks. Would Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta cut one of their precious picks.

Next: 4-under-the-radar Training Camp standouts

There’s only one roster cut, and it’s just before the regular season. Teams will be slash their rosters from 90 some odd players into their 53-man squad. There’s a lot of preseason football left to play, but the competition heats up this Thursday night.