Camp thoughts Vol. XV

 

With cutdown day less than 48 hours away, time to take one final stab at the lucky 53 who will form the initial Browns roster. All 32 National Football League teams must trim their rosters to a maximum 53 players on their active/inactive lists by Saturday at 4 p.m. EDT.

 

As is the case on NFL roster-trim day, the first iteration of the Browns’ roster is quite malleable. It will change after general managers and their front offices pore over cuts from other rosters, seeking to improve their teams.

 

What is one’s man’s scrap often times is another man’s treasure. That generally results in a roster shakeup that, depending on the team, could have a major effect on the shape of said roster.

 

That said, I believe the vast majority of the Browns’ roster has pretty much been decided. I have labeled 51 players on the current roster as definites. That leaves only two slots left to fill it out.

 

First the definites by position . . .

 

QUARTERBACK: Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum. Unless Mayfield gets hurt, the Browns do not need a third quarterback. Garrett Gilbert winds up on the practice squad if he clears waivers. If he doesn’t, rookie Kevin Davidson probably gets the nod.

 

RUNNING BACK/FULLBACK: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, Andy Janovich. Johnson beats out Dontrell Hilliard and Janovich makes Johnny Stanton a free agent.

 

WIDE RECEIVERS: Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, Donovan Peoples-Jones (R). Only five names because the Browns will not run many three-receiver or more plays. Hodge shines on special teams, People-Jones can double as a return man and Higgins makes up for his lost season in 2019.

 

TIGHT END: Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Stephen Carlson, Harrison Bryant (R). Pharaoh Brown fails to make the cut. Carlson is a better receiver. Bryant challenges Njoku for playing time. This group will see a lot of footballs coming their way.

 

TACKLE: Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills Jr. (R), Kendall Lamm, Chris Hubbard. Lamm and Hubbard are former starters. Conklin is the best talent on the offensive line. Wills has the most pressure, working on the left side for the first time in his career.

 

GUARD: Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller. Only two guards? This is where the waiver list might help the position.

 

CENTER: JC Tretter, Nick Harris, (R), Evan Brown. Harris starts the opener a week from Sunday if Tretter is not fully recovered from late offseason surgery. Brown sticks around until Tretter returns.

 

DEFENSIVE END: Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon, Porter Gustin, Adrian Clayborn. Gustin was a pleasant training camp surprise. Clayborn is more of a situational member of the line. The situation? Harassing the quarterback.

 

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Sheldon Richardson, Larry Ogunjobi, Jordan Elliott (R), Eli Ankou. Richardson is there every game. Ogunjobi isn’t. Andrew Billings opting out before training camp hurt.

 

LINEBACKER: B. J. Goodson, Sione Takitaki, Mack Wilson, Tae Davis, Malcolm Smith, Jacob Phillips (R). Davis returns from his knee injury sometime before the bye week (9). Goodson anchors the middle. Smith brings eight valuable years of experience to a position that needs it. Phillips has impressed in camp.

 

CORNERBACK: Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Terrence Mitchell, M. J. Stewart, Kevin Johnson, Tavierre Thomas. Williams is iffy for at least the opener with a shoulder. Mitchell moves in if he can’t go. Stewart, a late pickup, has been impressive in camp. Johnson returns when his lacerated liver heals.

 

SAFETY: Karl Joseph, Sheldrick Redwine, Andrew Sendejo, Ronnie Harrison. Rookie Grant Delpit is out for the season. Without him, it looked like a weak area until the Browns on Thursday traded for Ronnie Harrison, a natural strong safety who can play free. So come on down and join the rest of the team.

 

PLACEKICKER: Austin Seibert. By default. Now all he has to do is go out and prove this was the right choice.

 

PUNTER: Jamie Gillan. Also by default. One of the best punters in the NFL in his rookie season in 2019.

 

LONG SNAPPER: Charley Hughlett. Default #3. You never hear or read anything bad about him. That’s the nicest thing you can say about the most anonymous guy on the team.

 

That’s 51. Need two more. Candidates: Cornerbacks Donovan Olumba and A. J. Green (R), wide receivers Taywan Taylor, JoJo Natson and Damion Ratley and defensive end Chad Thomas. Natson is strictly a return man. Ratley and Thomas have failed to impress in two seasons.

 

Olumba and Green are neck and neck. A coin flip says Olumba. (This just in. Second-guessing myself on the coin flip and changing the original post from Olumba to Green. Would rather lose Olumba than Green on waivers.) Taylor is valuable as a special teamer. He and Green join the other 51. With fingers crossed, that completes the final 53 until General Manager Andrew Berry begins massaging the roster shortly after the massive cut list becomes available around 4 p.m. on Saturday.

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The number of players on practice squads has been increased to 16 for the next two seasons because of COVID-19. Four players can be protected from other teams on a weekly basis. In 2022, the squad’s population will be reduced to 14.