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

We’re predicting the final 53 players for the Browns 2021 regular season.

The Browns are looking ahead to the regular season with a lot of hype and hope. The team is a strong contender for the Super Bowl if the defense is as improved as fans and team personnel hopes it is. The offense should be as good as last year and barring any catastrophic injuries, the team should be set to make a lot of noise this year.

Part of making that noise is constructing the best team possible. The Browns, and every other NFL team, entered the preseason with 90 players on their roster. The NFL rules allow only 53 players on the active roster and another 12 on the practice squad. That’s 65 total players. Cutting 25 guys is not an easy task, and that’s assuming you aren’t monitoring other teams, getting ready to poach talent from them as well.

With so few roster spots, it’s hard to know who to keep and who to cut. That’s why this article exists, to help the Browns know what the right answers are.

We’ve seen enough after two games to know who’s ready and who’s not. This is not a team that’s rebuilding, it can’t afford to keep guys who aren’t helping the team in an obvious and direct manner. Potential is only good enough to get people fired. We need results.

This prediction is the best-built team possible out of the players on hand. Everyone on this team has shown to be good enough to warrant their spot, or at the very least, better than the other options that they played alongside.

More than likely some of these players aren’t going to make the team that we predicted. They’ll likely be replaced by a couple of players that come over after other teams make their final cut. Trying to factor in over 800 possibilities is maddening and it’s not happening. So we’re just looking at the best fits from the Browns’ current roster, and not from the other 31 other teams as well.

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

Defense

Defensive End: Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, Porter Gustin, DE Takk McKinley, DE Cameron Malveaux
Reason: The first three names are obvious. Takk McKinley was nearly a casualty but he returned to camp. Cameron Malveaux is the fifth-best option the team has.

Defensive Tackle: Andrew Billings, Sheldon Day, Jordan Elliot, Malik Jackson, Tommy Togiai
Reason: Give praise to Johnny Stanton, because either Jordan Elliot or Malik Jackson weren’t going to make the team without him.

Linebackers: Sione Takitaki, Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Tony Fields II, Mack Wilson
Reason: Sione Takitaki or Mack Wilson were almost casualties but Jacob Phillips’ potential year-ending injury opened up the door.

Cornerbacks: Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, Greg Newsome II, Greedy Williams, A.J. Green, M.J. Stewart
Reason: It could be a situation where the Browns go five and five at safety and corner respectively but we think they’ll carry an extra corner due to Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams’ health history.

Safeties: John Johnson III, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison Jr, Richard LeCounte
Reason: Concern over Grant Delpit remains, but unless he ends up on the IR, he’ll be among the main corp group of safeties. Plus the Browns have two linebackers who can fill in at safety in a pinch.

Final Roster Number: 25 players

Special Teams, Practice Squads, Reserved Injured List, and Released Players

Special Teams:

(K) Chase McLaughlin, (P) Jamie Gillan, (LS) Charley Hughlett
Reason: Cody Parkey was placed on IR but released anyway due to the short window of his injury.

Now that we’ve made all of our cuts, who gets to be on the practice squad?

Practice Team (11 of 12):

1. QB Kyle Lauletta
2. RB D’Ernest Johnson
3. WR JoJo Natson
4. TE Jordan Franks
5. OT Drew Forbes
6. C Javon Patterson
7. DE Joe Jackson
8. DT Damion Square
9. LB Elijah Lee
10. CB Kiondre Thomas,
11. S Elijah Benton.
12.  – OPEN –

Reason: The Browns would be wise to keep a player at every position. That’s exactly how this practice squad roster shakes out. Now, this will likely not look anything like the Browns’ actual practice squad, as some of these guys may get snatched up and the Browns may their eyes on other players. So this is more of a “projected practice squad” based on just Browns players.

We’re also keeping a spot open as the Browns will likely look at add someone from another team to the squad regardless of where the rest of the practice squad comes from.

Reserved Injured List:

TE Stephen Carlson, TE Connor Davis, WR Ryan Switzer, LB Montrel Meander, LB Jacob Phillips, RB Tre Harbison

Reason: The reason is pretty obvious; they’re hurt and the Browns want to keep them. Now, Phillips has not been placed on the list as of Aug. 26, 2021. If he gets placed on this list to get to 53 players, the Browns won’t be able to recall him all year. Same with every other player on this list. If the Browns wait to place him on the IR until after the final cuts, then the Browns believe he’ll be able to come back this year. We’re jumping the gun and declaring a torn bicep tendon isn’t the most likely thing to return from in four months.

Released Players

OFF: RB Trae Harbison, RB John Kelly, WR Derrick Willies, WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, WR Alexander Hollins, WR Davion Davis, TE Kyle Makraway, OL Chris Hubbard, OT Greg Senat, OT Alex Taylor,  OG Colby Gossett, OG Cordel Iwuagwu

Reasons: Most of these are obvious and don’t need an explanation, but Greg Senat, Alex Taylor, and Colby Gossett have potential. Senat is too inconsistent, Taylor lacks mobility and Gossett makes too many mental mistakes. Hubbards ends up on the list because it’s more likely he gets cut than James Hudson. Blake Hance/Michael Dunn has proven to be every bit as good as Hubbard as well, and cheaper.

DEF: DE Curtis Weaver, DE Romeo McKnight, DT Marvin Wilson  DT Malik McDowell, LB Tegray Scales, LB Malcolm Smith, LB Willie Harvey Jr.,  CB Emmanuel Rugamba, CB Robert Jackson, CB Brian Allen, S Jovante Moffatt, S Sheldrick Redwine

Reasons: Same here as above, a lot of obvious cuts. Yet the reason Weaver and Wilson are getting cut needs to be pointed out; they are not good enough to take someone else’s job. This isn’t baseball where you can stash 30 players and hope they get better. Everyone, from the starting quarterback to the last man on the practice squad needs to be able to play well right off the bat. Weaver and Wilson have not played well all preseason and there’s no reason to think that’s going to suddenly change now.

As for McDowell, he may be “impressing coaches” at the moment but he’s had umpteen chances in the NFL, and carrying him just brings with it a risk that’s much too big to warrant. McDowell isn’t talented enough to carry this much baggage and expect a spot.

Final Preview Depth Chart

We’ve whittled down to just 53 guys and now it’s time to find out who’s going to start where. Since the Browns will start games with two-tight ends, three-receivers, five-defensive backs, or three-line backer sets from time to time, we’re going to factor in who would be the second tight end, the third receiver, the third linebacker, and the fifth defensive back as well.

Offensive Starters/Reserves

QB: Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum
RB: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Demetric Felton
FB: Andy Janovich, Johnny Stanton
Flex: Johnny Stanton
WR1: Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge
WR2: Odell Beckham Jr., Donovan Peoples-Jones Anthony Schwartz,
WR3: Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones Anthony Schwartz (when applicable)
TE1: Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Johnny Stanton
TE2: Harrison Bryant, Johnny Stanton (when applicable)
LT: Jedrick Wills, Chris Hubbard, Michael Dunn
LG: Joel Bitonio, Michael Dunn
C: J.C. Tretter, Nick Harris, Blake Hance
RG: Wyatt Teller, Blake Hance
RT: Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard

Defensive starters and reserves

RE: Myles Garrett, Porter Gustin, Cameron Malveaux
DT1: Andrew Billings, Sheldon Day Jordan Elliot, Porter Gustin
DT2: Malik Jackson, Sheldon Day Tommy Togiai, Porter Gustin
LE: Jadeveon Clowney, Takk McKinley, Cameron Malveaux
LB: Sione Takitaki, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah,
LB: Anthony Walker, Tony Fields II,
LB: Mack Wilson  (when applicable)
CB: Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, A.J. Green,
CB: Troy Hill, Greg Newsome II, M.J. Stewart
SS: John Johnson III,  Richard LeCounte, Tony Fields II
FS: Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison Jr, Tony Fields II
5DB:  Greedy Williams, Ronnie Harrison, Tony Fields II (when applicable)

Special Teams

K: Chase McLaughlin
P: Jamie Gillan
LS: Charley Hughlett
KR: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Demetric Felton
PR: Demetric Felton, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz