The Cleveland Browns have a team that fans are chomping at the bit to see on the field. The roster is stacked full of players who should help push the Browns to the upper echelon of the AFC.
There remains to be questions about who will make the team, who will start (especially on defense) and who has the edge at backup positions as well. We reviewed earlier today players who are believed to be certain to make the 53-man roster. Following, we took a look at the 34 players believed to be on the bubble and fighting for, approximately, 17 roster spots.
Now comes the team’s first unofficial depth chart of the season in advance of the preseason opener:
There are not a lot of surprises but a few things to note of interest:
- Donovan Peoples-Jones and Rashard Higgins are ahead of KhaDarel Hodge. This was not true most of last season.
- D’Ernest Johnson is listed ahead of Demetric Felton.
- Both Michael Dunn and Blake Hance are listed ahead of Drew Forbes as he returns from his COVID-19 opt-out. Last year, Forbes was set to compete with Wyatt Teller for the starting right guard spot.
- Sheldon Day, and not rookie Tommy Togiai, is listed as the backup to Andrew Billings.
- Sione Takitaki is listed as a starter.
- John Johnson III is listed as a free safety while Grant Delpit is listed at strong safety.
- Sheldrick Redwine is ahead of rookie Richard LeCounte III.
It is important to note that, most of the time, the coaching staff and front office are barely involved in the creation of these early depth charts but the staff try to use the information available to create them.