The time has come to put out a 53-man roster projection. So let’s jump right into the most important position on the Cleveland Browns. The Browns will keep…one punter, and that will be Corey Bojorquez. Okay, jokes aside, here are the three special teams players:

Special Teams

  • Punter: Corey Bojorquez
  • Kicker: Dustin Hopkins
  • Long Snapper: Rex Sunahara

Not much needs to be said, but if Hopkins continues to struggle, Andre Szmyt will likely be on the practice squad as a replacement.

Offensive Line

  • Starters: OT Dawand Jones, OT Jack Conklin, OG Joel Bitonio, OG Wyatt Teller, C Ethan Pocic
  • Backups: OT Cornelius Lucas, OG Teven Jenkins, OG Zack Zinter, C Luke Wypler

I wasn’t expecting to put nine offensive linemen on my final 53-man roster, but I find it difficult to believe the Browns won’t include Zinter or Wypler. Both were drafted last season.

Zinter didn’t play well in his limited snaps, but to be fair, he was coming off a leg fracture he suffered against Ohio State. Wypler missed all of last season with an ankle injury. He’s shown real promise this preseason, and personally, I would like to see him play sooner rather than later. I am not a fan of Pocic. The Browns also have liked to use a backup lineman as a fullback.

That leaves the two veterans, Lucas and Jenkins. Lucas is the only quality backup tackle on the roster. Jenkins, on the other hand, is an interesting option. He’s a former first-round pick and has played well, but he’s dealt with injuries throughout his career. I think the Browns are setting up for Jenkins to take over for Bitonio or Teller next season. He’s only signed for one year, but I think the Browns are trying to get ahead of a glaring hole at guard heading into the 2026 season.

Tight Ends

  • David Njoku
  • Harold Fannin Jr.

Seems pretty self-explanatory. The Browns’ Pro Bowl tight end and their third-round rookie. They can always add a guy like Blake Whiteheart, Brenden Bates, or Sal Cannella to the practice squad and elevate him to the game-day roster.

Running Backs

  • (Quinshon Judkins)
  • Dylan Sampson
  • Jerome Ford or trade acquisition
  • Armani Marshall or Pierre Strong Jr

While we are waiting for Judkins to sign his contract, the Browns do have a question mark at running back. Sampson is going to make the team. Ford, on the other hand, I’m unsure of. I don’t think he’s that good, and with someone like Brian Robinson Jr. on the trade block, I wonder if the Browns and Commanders could cook up a swap of Robinson and Ford.

I have been really impressed by rookie Armani Marshall. I do like Pierre Strong Jr., but to make the final 53, I think it’s unlikely the Browns carry more than three running backs if Judkins is signed and available to play.

Wide Receivers

  • Jerry Jeudy
  • Cedric Tillman
  • Jamari Thrash
  • Isaiah Bond
  • Gage Larvadain
  • Diontae Johnson

I didn’t want to put Johnson on the final 53, but he’s still getting reps with the first team. Johnson doesn’t have any guaranteed money on the books, so the Browns could release him without enduring a cap penalty. Larvadain has balled out during the preseason and was returning kicks. He’s played his way onto the 53-man roster. Maybe that was a signal that veteran special teams player DeAndre Carter’s spot isn’t guaranteed. I also liked what I saw from Kaden Davis — I hope they can sneak him onto the practice squad.

Quarterbacks

  • Joe Flacco
  • Shedeur Sanders
  • Dillon Gabriel
  • Kenny Pickett

Yes, the Browns are going to carry four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. I think there’s a good chance Pickett ends up on the IR if they aren’t able to find a trade partner for him, which might be the best scenario. He hasn’t practiced in full since the end of July. So it might behoove him to get healthy for the first four weeks, and depending on how Flacco plays, start the October block of games. Then the Browns could decide after the bye week whether to switch to one of the rookies or keep playing Pickett. On the flip side, if Pickett is healthy, then the Browns will keep him and have Pickett as the active backup for week one. Joe Flacco is 40 years old. The last three seasons, he’s played in a total of 18 games. The last time he was named the Week One starter was in 2019. He’s unlikely to play in all 17 games this year. Remember, Father Time is undefeated, unless your name is LeBron James or Tom Brady.

Total Offense: 25 Players

Defensive Line

  • Starters: Myles Garrett, Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, Alex Wright
  • Backups: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Isaiah McGuire, (Mike Hall Jr), Adin Huntington, Julian Okwara, and Shelby Harris or Sam Kamara

Nine defensive linemen. Okay, hear me out. In a Jim Schwartz defense, he loves to have D-line depth. So far during the preseason, the defensive line has been a real strength of this roster. Mike Hall is still on the PUP list, and Jowon Briggs was traded to the Jets. This opens up a guaranteed spot for someone like Harris or Kamara as the fourth defensive tackle. Huntington has earned a spot on this roster, in my opinion.

Linebackers

  • Mohamoud Diabate
  • Carson Schwesinger
  • Devin Bush
  • Jerome Baker
  • Winston Reid

Losing JOK for the foreseeable future is devastating. There’s no way to replace a player like that. But the Browns have something in Schwesinger and Watson. Schwesinger was the 33rd overall pick this past April, has impressed during training camp and preseason games. *Note* I put Nathaniel Watson in this same paragraph as someone who’s impressed during camp, but he was put on the IR and will miss the entire season. Very unfortunate. Reminds me of Jacob Phillips and the injuries that derailed a promising preseason.

Diabate has shown flashes, along with Reid, dating back to last preseason. And with Jordan Hicks retiring in late July, the Browns will have to rely on Baker and Bush to be the veterans of the group. But overall, the linebacker room looks to be very athletic and plays fast. This is a staple of Jim Schwartz’s defense.

Secondary

  • Starters: Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Ronnie Hickman, Grant Delpit
  • Backups: Cameron Mitchell, Rayshawn Jenkins, Damontae Kazee, Myles Harden, Nik Needham, Donovan McMillon, Tony Brown II

Eleven players in the secondary. This is where I think a lot of movement can happen. We know who the locks are to make this roster — Ward, Newsome, Delpit. Hickman, Kazee, and Jenkins should also be safe.

Tony Brown is a lock as a special teams player, much like Mike Ford in the last two seasons. McMillon is a UDFA who’s shown a lot of promise. I don’t think the Browns can risk cutting him and attempting to stash him on the practice squad.

Needham is a hybrid safety/corner. He’s played a lot of football and might be a more reliable slot defender than Mitchell. Speaking of Mitchell — yikes. He’s struggled during both camps and in games. Harden hasn’t impressed anyone either. I think the Browns will be very active on the waiver wire or in the trade market when it comes to the secondary, specifically the cornerback position.

Defense: 25 total players

I can’t wait for the Browns to be extremely active on the waiver wire and the trade market. Just so I look like an idiot with my roster predictions.