Predicting the Browns 53 man roster ahead of the final week of cuts

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CLEVELAND, OHIO – AUGUST 22: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns watches from the sidelines during the first quarter against the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 22, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Offense

Quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum
Reason: Like last time, Baker Mayfield is the team’s starter and Case Keenum would cost too much to get rid of.

Runningbacks: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Demetric Felton
Reason: D’Ernest Johnson and John Kelly showed enough to keep an eye on but they lack the versatility to take some else’s job.

Fullback: Andy Janovich
Reason: He can block, he can catch and he can run.

Flex: Johnny Stanton
Reason: The Browns need a fourth running back and a fourth tight end, Johnny Stanton can do both of those jobs. Why carry two players when one will do?

Wide Receiver: Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr, Rashard Higgins, Anthony Schwartz, Donovan Peoples-Jones, KhaDarel Hodge
Reason: The Browns are adamant about sticking with Odell Beckham. Jarvis Landry is still a top 100 player. Donovan Peoples-Jones has been the best WR in the preseason. Anthony Schwartz was taken too high to cut and KhaDarrell Hodge rounds out the group.

Tight End: Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, David Njoku
Reason: These three are pretty obvious. As for no fourth tight end, the Browns lost Stephen Carlson for the year but should be able to use Johnny Felton in those sets instead.

Offensive Tackle: Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills, James Hudson
Reason: Chris Hubbard has done nothing to warrant being cut, but his age (30) and his salary as a backup make him very expendable, at least when you realize that they just drafted James Hudson and the Browns have two versatile studs getting paid half of his salary in Michael Dunn and Blake Hance.

Guard: Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Michael Dunn, Blake Hance (4)
Reason: Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are still your starters, and like with Hubbard, Michael Dunn and Blake Hance can play anywhere/everywhere.

Center: J.C. Tretter, Nick Harris (2)
Reason: We’re predicting this list, and we’re predicting the Browns make the mistake of keeping Nick Harris. In an ideal world, Harris gets cut and the Browns keep Hubbard while moving Hance to center but this isn’t a perfect world.

Final Roster Number: 25 players

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