Cleveland Browns 53-man roster projection ahead of Week 1

• Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback: The Browns released Kellen Mond and traded Joshua Dobbs, which leaves the team with just two quarterbacks on the roster.

• Competition at interior offensive line: The Browns have arguably the best guard combination in the NFL, but behind them is a battle for one spot. Wes Martin has graded well this preseason, while Drew Forbes has been limited. The best guess is they keep Forbes and hope to land Martin on the practice squad.

• Cornerback locked and loaded: There isn’t much to debate in this room. The top three could form one of the best cornerback trios in the NFL if they stay healthy. Mitchell is a rookie, but as we’ve seen from this front office, they know how to find cornerbacks in the draft.

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The 2023 preseason is over, and roster cut-downs have begun. In the coming days, players on the roster bubble will learn their fate and teams will start making moves, as we’ve seen with the Arizona Cardinals, who have already started their roster reconstruction.

It is almost impossible to predict trades — though there are some candidates who stick out —  but we can predict what the roster will look like for Week 1 of the NFL season with the players the Cleveland Browns currently have under contract.

At each position, we’ll designate the sure-fire locks and the bubble players. No one is better at Cleveland Browns contracts and roster moves than my friend Jack Duffin of the Orange and Brown Report — I used his blueprint to predict the Browns' 53-man roster on how many at each position the team will keep.

Click here for an up-to-date list of all the roster moves ahead of cut-down day

Quarterback

Locks: Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Bubble: None

The Browns released Kellen Mond and traded Joshua Dobbs, which leaves the team with just two quarterbacks on the roster. Watson is obviously the starter. Thompson-Robinson has looked like a seasoned veteran during the preseason, which is why the front office was comfortable making the moves they did.

The Browns will likely try to bring Mond back on the practice squad but don’t be surprised if they acquire a cheap veteran to compete with him.

Running Backs

Locks: Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong Jr.

Bubble: Demetric Felton

In the Andrew Berry/Kevin Stefanski era, the Browns have kept four backs each season. I would expect the same this season.

The depth is weaker than in previous years, so the Browns traded for Strong. They may pivot and keep only three, but I’m going off history and expect Felton to make the roster, as he’s essentially operating as Elijah Moore’s backup in terms of utilization.

Wide Receiver

Locks: Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, Donovan-Peoples Jones, Cedric Tillman, MARQUISE GOODWIN

Bubble: David Bell, Austin Watkins, Michael Woods II

This is most likely to be six roster spots with the potential for a seventh spot to open up, and that final spot is up for grabs. Bell is the favorite, as the team drafted him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and general manager Andrew Berry likes to keep his draft picks for at least two years.

Watkins has been very impressive this preseason and could sway the team to keep seven.

Tight End

Locks: David Njoku, Jordan Akins, Harrison Bryant

Bubble: None

This position has decreased in the number of roster spots used in the Berry/Stefanski era from four to three. With the Browns utilizing more 11 personnel to complement Watson at QB, keeping four is out of the question. This position is cut and dry.

Tackle

Locks: Jedrick Wills Jr., Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones

Bubble: James Hudson

The Browns will keep four tackles on the roster. Hudson is the only question here, but I believe he’ll make the cut unless they make a trade for a veteran who can better step into the left tackle position. Hudson has improved each preseason of his career and earned a 77.0 run-blocking grade on 119 run-blocking snaps in the 2022 regular season. He’s a fine swing tackle who earned a 70.4 grade this preseason.

Guard

Locks: Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller

Bubble: Drew Forbes, Wes Martin

The Browns have arguably the best guard combination in the NFL, but behind them is a battle for one spot. Martin has graded well this preseason, while Forbes has been limited. My best guess is they keep Forbes and hope to land Martin on the practice squad.

Center

Locks: Ethan Pocic, Luke Wypler

Bubble: Nick Harris

The center and guard rooms are intertwined, and the Browns had Harris slated to start in 2022 before a preseason knee injury ended his season. He’s bounced back from his injury, grading at 71.4 this preseason, but he struggled over the last two games. Wypler has been used at guard when Harris has been at center, so his positional versatility earns him the nod here.

Edge Defender

Locks: Myles Garrett, Za’Darius Smith, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Isaiah McGuire, Alex Wright*

Bubble: Isaiah Thomas*, Sam Kamara

The only question is with Wright and Thomas, as both required knee surgery and might land on the Injured Reserve. With the addition of Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator, the number of edge defenders might change from previous years. The Browns generally keep five edge defenders, so if Wright and Thomas land on the IR, we’re likely looking at a waiver wire pickup or a practice squad promotion for Kamara.

Defensive Interior

Locks: Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris, Siaki Ika

Bubble: Jordan Elliott, Maurice Hurst, Trysten Hill, Tommy Togiai

Hurst was the best of the bubble players this preseason, earning an 81.1 grade across four games. Hill missed a good chunk of training camp but played 30 snaps in each of the Browns' last two preseason games.

Hill was largely unproductive, earning a 55.7 grade vs. the Eagles but improved in the run game vs. the Chiefs with a 67.2 overall grade.

Anyone who paid attention to the Browns in 2022 saw Elliott (40.4 overall grade in 2022) and Togiai (37.3) form arguably the worst defensive tackle tandem in the NFL last year. My prediction is that we see a complete overhaul, with Hill and Hurst making the team.

Linebacker

Locks: Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Sione Takitaki

Bubble: Tony Fields, Jordan Kunaszyk, Matthew Adams, Mohamoud Diabate

The Browns defense is going to look different than previous years with Jim Schwartz taking over as defensive coordinator. They’ve generally kept six linebackers, and I expect the same in 2023, but we might see a seventh, depending on what is needed for special teams.

Diabate is an undrafted free agent but has been seriously impressive in preseason, earning a 71.6 grade, including an 84.0 coverage grade and 74.5 pass-rush grade. I would not be shocked to see all seven make the squad, though Kunaszyk will likely miss several weeks due to a knee injury.

Cornerback

Locks: Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Martin Emerson, Cameron Mitchell, Mike Ford, A.J. Green III

Bubble: None

There isn’t much to debate in this room. The top three could form one of the best cornerback trios in the NFL if they stay healthy. Mitchell is a rookie, but as we’ve seen from this front office, they know how to find cornerbacks in the draft. A trade might happen to upgrade from Green.

Safety

Locks: Juan Thornhill, Grant Delpit, Rodney McLeod

Bubble: Ronnie Hickman, D’Anthony Bell

This really comes down to a battle between Bell and Hickman for the fourth safety spot. Hickman has snagged three interceptions this preseason, though two of them could be argued he was more “right place, right time.” Both players were undrafted in back-to-back years, but the front office might see more upside in Bell’s athleticism.

Special Teams

Locks: LS Charley Hughlett, P Corey Bojorquez

Bubble: K Cade York

The only question here is whether York makes the squad. He has the power but is inconsistent. The Browns have one of the best rosters on paper, and they won’t want to leave games in the hands (or leg) of a kicker who can’t consistently make his kicks.

Final Verdict