The NFL preseason has mercifully come to an end. Now comes the next big step before the 2019 regular season: the roster cutdown from 90 to 53 players.
Instead of predicting what John Dorsey and the Browns will do, this is the 53-man roster I would assemble. There will be a lot of overlap, but I don’t expect all 53 of my choices to look the same as what the Browns roster will look like come Saturday afternoon.
Again, this is not what I expect the Browns to do. These are the choices I would make in whittling down to 53.
Quarterback (3)
Starter: Baker Mayfield
Reserves: Garrett Gilbert, Drew Stanton
Not much drama here. I would keep David Blough on the practice squad even after a rough outing in the preseason finale.
Running back (3)
Starter: Nick Chubb
Reserves: Dontrell Hilliard, D’Ernest Johnson
Suspended: Kareem Hunt
Rolling the dice that the top three can stay healthy until Hunt returns from suspension in Week 10. Johnson’s work as a return specialist will keep him around even after Hunt gets back.
Tight end (3)
Starter: David Njoku
Reserves: Demetrius Harris, Seth DeValve
Pharaoh Brown is a tough cut, but DeValve’s emergence as a fullback/H-back gets him the spot. I’m looking long and hard at cuts from other teams to add talent at this spot, for my money the weakest overall position group on the Browns roster.
Wide receiver (6)
Starters: Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins
Reserves: Derrick Willies, Damion Ratley, Braxton Miller
Suspended: Antonio Callaway
Miller sneaks in primarily because there isn’t really anyone else better as a backup in the slot, and he did play well when given a preseason chance. I would have kept Jaelen Strong over Ratley but that ship has sailed. Miller is No. 52 to make it on my roster stack, and I’m actively gleaning the waiver wire for someone a little more reliable.
Offensive line (9)
Starters: Greg Robinson, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Eric Kush, Chris Hubbard
Reserves: Kendall Lamm, Drew Forbes, Wyatt Teller, Bryan Witzmann
Forbes’ health is a critical key here. We have not yet heard a prognosis on the knee injury he suffered in the fourth preseason game. If he’s sidelined enough that he needs to go on IR, Austin Corbett sticks around. Otherwise, I’m desperately hoping to trade the 2018 second-round disaster. If I don’t get any takers, I have no problem cutting bait with a well-intentioned mistake. Teller showed me enough in his starting role in Buffalo to trust him as the No. 3 IOL.
Willie Wright and Brian Fineanganofo are priority practice squad additions. If Wright could play center he’d make my team over Witzmann.
That’s keeping 24 on offense.
Defensive tackle (4)
Starters: Sheldon Richardson, Larry Ogunjobi
Reserves: Devaroe Lawrence, Trevon Coley
The top three here are easy. It’s the No. 4 spot that was perhaps the most difficult decision on the entire roster. Coley brings experience and showed some pass rush moves above and beyond what Carl Davis, Brian Price and Daniel Ekuale did in the preseason.
EDGE (6)
Starters: Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon
Reserves: Chris Smith, Anthony Zettel, Genard Avery, Chad Thomas
Smith could start for a lot of teams, an invaluable depth piece for the Browns. I like Zettel’s versatility to play either side and also kick inside. Avery proved beyond any doubt he cannot play in space, so using 2019 to fully convert him to a hand-in-dirt pass rusher is fine. Thomas played his way on with a better attitude and more effective run defense all summer. Wyatt Ray belongs on the practice squad so the Browns can properly channel his length and energy.
Linebacker (6)
Starters: Joe Schobert, Christian Kirksey
Reserves: Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki, Ray-Ray Armstrong, Adarius Taylor
Schobert is back, baby! Kirksey proved he’s back and healthy too. Wilson stole the preseason show with his consistent ability to impact the pass defense. Takitaki sticks but projects as a gameday inactive while he heals up. Armstrong brings a needed edge, while Taylor earns his spot on special teams and progressively played better as the prseason progressed.
Anthony Stubbs surpassed Willie Harvey on the practice squad pecking order in the preseason but I’d effort to keep both around.
Cornerback (5)
Starters: Denzel Ward, Terrance Mitchell, T.J. Carrie
Reserves: Greedy Williams, Phillip Gaines
The only real drama here was keeping five or six, with Lenzy Pipkins being the hard-luck sacrificial corner. Robert Jackson has special teams value, but not enough. Seventh-rounder Donnie Lewis is a practice squad priority.
Safety (5)
Starters: Damarious Randall, Morgan Burnett
Reserves: Eric Murray, Jermaine Whitehead, Juston Burris
This one was easy. Burris emphatically outplayed his competition, namely rookies J.T. Hassell and Sheldrick Redwine, all summer long. The top four bring versatility and are one of the league’s better combinations. I would keep Hassell over Redwine for practice squad priority.
Specialists (3)
Long snapper: Charley Hughlett
Punter: Britton Colquitt
Kicker: Austin Seibert
Seibert won the job, albeit tepidly. I would love to keep Jamie Gillan on the practice squad and groom him for a year to be a cheaper replacement option for Colquitt in 2020, but right now the incumbent remains one of the NFL’s best and I can’t overlook that for a cool storyline.
