Looking at the 4 position battles the Cleveland Browns have and the front runners

The Cleveland Browns have four position battles that need to be resolved.

The Cleveland Browns have some really good talent in some really key positions. They also have some talent that is good, but not the best. Then they have talent that is a massive unknown on their depth chart, leaving people to wonder who’s going to start.

The Browns have four positions where heads are being scratched. The second and third wide receiver options, center, both defensive tackles, and the second safety (free safety). These four positions are massive question marks at the moment, and we have no idea who has the inside track.

Yet, we’re still going to give you our picks. These are in flux, and the talent can move up or down depending on OTAs, training camp, and the pre-season (even the regular season I’m sure) but for right now, these are the positions with the biggest holes and the best bets on the roster to fill them.

Who should fill the Cleveland Browns’ positions of need?

Wide Receivers

Amari Cooper is going to be penciled in at No. 1, while he may not be a true No. 1 anymore, he’s an upgrade over what the Browns had. The offense is going to switch gears and spread the ball around more. This is why Austin Hooper was let go, to get more receivers involved, so the emphasis on not just a second but a third wide receiver is necessary.

To fill those slots, I think you have to go with Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz. Peoples-Jones is a third, maybe a fourth receiver at best but he’s the most reliable option on this squad right now. For Schwartz, the hope is that his speed will help the Browns stretch the field. Granted his route running and catching last year wasn’t optimal. Hopefully, that changes.

Center

Releasing JC Tretter was a mistake. The man is still a Top 5 center in the NFL right now, and now we have Nick Harris and Ethan Pocic vying for the position. They’re the most likely candidates but Dawson Deaton is also a contender all things considered. Heck, guys like Blake Hance may also end up competing for the position. I don’t think Harris is the answer, and the Browns don’t either, as they brought in Pocic. I think it’s Pocic’s job to lose.

Defensive tackle

The Browns’ defensive tackles aren’t great. Taven Bryan seems like a lock to start, and that really leaves us with Jordan Elliot and Tommy Togiai as guys I think need to be in the conversation. Andrew Berry’s draft classes haven’t created any stars just yet, and while some may be on their way, the best we can about the rest is that they’re either serviceable or full of potential. Someone like Jerick Wills is serviceable, guys like Elliot and Togiai have “potential”.  The team needs to get a return on their investments, so while the team does have other players at the position, either Elliot or Togiai has to be the guy who gets the spot.

Safety

John Johnson III is going to be the starter at strong safety more than likely unless something radical happens. The Browns lost MJ Stewart, the team’s free safety, at the start of the offseason. I thought Troy Hill would fit well here, but the Browns traded him back to the Rams. That doesn’t mean there aren’t options, just not great ones. Ronnie Harrison is likely to be penciled in as the starter but he lost the job before, so he’s no lock. Grant Delpit and Richard LeCounte are going to be vying for the role as well, with my money going to Delpit to land the starter’s role.