Cleveland Browns: Predicting the 53-man roster for Week 1

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Predicting the Cleveland Browns 53-man roster for Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season.

The preseason games are over and final cuts are due on Saturday. Who will the Cleveland Browns keep around for the regular season?

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, Drew Stanton, Garrett Gilbert

Baker did not dress for the Cleveland Browns preseason finale against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, taking on an assistant coach role of sorts. Mayfield stood right with head coach Freddie Kitchens for nearly the entire game. There is no question that Baker is the starter and an absolute lock to make the roster.

Kitchens has been vocal about Stanton being the back-up quarterback for this team, expressing that he brings a lot to the quarterback room as a seasoned veteran. The reason he had to answer these types of questions is because of the level of play that Gilbert has displayed this preseason. While Stanton may be the back-up, Gilbert as definitely played his way onto the team.

Running Backs

Nick Chubb, Dontrell Hilliard, D’Ernest Johnson (Kareem Hunt-suspended)

Like Mayfield, Chubb is coming into a sophomore season in which he will be heavily relied on in this offense, especially the first half of the year. Hilliard has looked great this offseason and is a big reason why the Browns were comfortable moving Duke Johnson.

D’Ernest Johnson has shown spurts of potential this preseason on offense and special teams. He has likely played his way onto the 53-man roster, at least until Kareem Hunt returns from his eight-game suspension.

Wide Receivers

Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Damion Ratley, Derrick Willies, Braxton Miller (Antonio Callaway-suspended)

Beckham and Landry were getting some work in with Mayfield prior to the game yesterday and everyone is excited to see what the trio can do on the field once the season begins. Higgins got a few reps in the preseason finale but is a lock to make the roster.

Ratley and Willies are entering their second season with the team and both should feel pretty secure about their roster spots as well. The question is who stays beyond them.

It looks like the clear-cut favorite is former Ohio State Buckeye and recent signee Braxton Miller. Miller looked pretty good last night and has a bit of valuable NFL experience that may give him the upper hand over guys like Ishmael Hyman, Dorian Baker, and Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi. Miller should be a solid option as a fill-in if needed before Antonio Callaway returns from a suspension of his own.

Tight Ends

David Njoku, Demetrius Harris, Seth Devalve

Njoku is the team’s starting tight end and a huge, valuable target in the red zone. Many feel he will have a bit of a breakout season this year. Harris came over from Kansas City in the offseason, where he spent time playing under GM John Dorsey. Harris is a capable receiver and will help in the running game as a blocker.

The first big question in my mind is who the third tight end will be. It could be DeValve, Pharoah Brown, Rico Gathers (who is also suspended a game), or could ultimately be someone coming in from the outside. For now, I give the nod to DeValve given his usage as an H-back/fullback type of player, with the lone fullback on the preseason roster injured.

Offensive Line

Greg Robinson, Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, Eric Kush, Chris Hubbard, Brad Seaton, Drew Forbes, Austin Corbett, Wyatt Teller, Kendall Lamm

Here is where things can get very interesting. Dorsey has recently been looking for outside options to address the clear weak spot of the Cleveland Browns roster. Bitonio has been great as a Brown and Tretter is a reliable center, but the rest of the line is swirling with question marks. Can Greg Robinson solidify himself as the franchise’s left tackle? Is Chris Hubbard a true starting-quality tackle? Who in the world is going to play right guard?

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For now, it appears that the answer to the last question is Eric Kush. But after an entire offseason of disappointing play at the position, it’s seems as though Kush was deemed the lesser of the evils. Dorsey gave up a fifth and a sixth-round pick to bring in Wyatt Teller, who started seven games for the Bills last season, so once he gets acclimated he should certainly have an opportunity to crack that starting lineup.

The rest could end up being dart throws. Lamm looks to be a solid bet for a spot. Corbett, as disappointing as he’s been as an early second-rounder last year, appears to be the back-up center and is likely to stay on the roster for now. However, I could see him getting moved or waived in the near future depending on what else happens around the league.

Seaton can provide some decent depth at tackle but could also be expendable if another player is brought it. Forbes sustained an injury during the Lions game that could affect whether he makes the team or not, but if healthy he is a young, versatile piece with good upside.

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Cleveland Browns: Final 53-man roster prediction

By A.J. Fagerlin | Aug 30, 2019