Way-too-early 53-man roster projection for the Browns: Offense

Way-too-early 53-man roster projection for the Browns: Who makes it on offense

The 2020 NFL Draft class creates some movement on the roster projection front. With at least five of the Browns’ draftees absolute locks to make the 53-man roster, there are some ripple effects up and down the depth chart.

Here is our early stab at the final 53-man roster when the Browns kick off the 2020 NFL season. To keep it more manageable, the offense and defense will be divided up in different posts.

Note: undrafted free agents are only included if they’re officially signed their Browns contracts as of press time.

QB – 2

Starter: Baker Mayfield

Backup: Case Keenum

Bubble: Garrett Gilbert, Kevin Davidson

Gilbert must hope that the new regime values keeping three QBs instead of just two. In his time in Minnesota, new Browns coach Kevin Stefanski only kept two, a status more than half the NFL has adopted lately.

RB – 4

Starters: Nick Chubb, Andy Janovich (FB)

Backup: Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson

Bubble: Dontrell Hilliard, Johnny Stanton

It might be optimistic to lock in Johnson as the No. 3 RB, but he offers more to the offense than Hilliard or Stanton. Special teams roles will decide the bottom here.

TE – 4

Starters: Austin Hooper, David Njoku

Backup: Harrison Bryant, Stephen Carlson

Bubble: Pharaoh Brown

Expect to see a lot more of two TEs on the field under Stefanski, and packages where three TEs line up. Carlson and Brown will be in a camp battle for the last spot, and don’t be surprised if the team brings in another TE/FB to compete as well.

WR – 6

Starters: Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry

Backups: Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Jojo Natson

Bubble: Damion Ratley, D.J. Montgomery, Taywan Taylor, J’Mon Moore, Tony Brown

The starters both topped 1,000 receiving yards a year ago and should continue to flourish under Kevin Stefanski. Higgins gets a shot at redemption as the third wideout after a miserable 2019. Rookie Peoples-Jones should have a clear path to being the No. 4 receiver and could also win the return specialist gig.

Hodge stood out on special teams in his first year in Cleveland and that keeps him safe. Natson will need to win the return job, as he is the least-skilled receiver of the entire bunch. Ratley stands the best chance of the bubble guys.

OL – 9

Starters (L-R): Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin

Backups: Chris Hubbard, Kendall Lamm, Nick Harris, Drew Forbes

Bubble: Willie Wright, Evan Brown, Colby Gossett, Malcolm Pridgeon

There is little drama with the starting unit, with the possible exception of Teller at right guard. If the Browns were to make a move to upgrade that spot it wouldn’t be a shock.

Hubbard took a pay cut to stick around as the top reserve, and his ability to play either OT spot but also RG makes him valuable. Forbes will stick if he’s healthy as the developmental prospect in his second season. Harris is the only true center (outside of Brown) who can backup Tretter. Lamm could get bumped as the fourth tackle by Wright or a player not currently on the roster.

Total – 25

Roster locks of that group: 22. Don’t expect a lot of shakeup from anyone who will see significant reps during the regular season. The deep backup spots along the line and at wide receiver, tight end and running back are the only real competitions entering the OTA period.

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Dryden’s NFL picks for Week 13

Scott Dryden breaks down the Week 13 slate of games

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the time with your family and of course watching football.

Last Week: 10-4 Season: 116-59

Thanksgiving 12:30 Chicago at Detroit: Both teams are struggling through difficult seasons with Matt Nagy and Matt Patricia receiving their fair share of criticism. The Bears defense controls the game in an ugly affair. Eating and drinking will be necessary to get through a titanic struggle. CHI 20 DET 13

Thanksgiving 4:30 Buffalo at Dallas: The Bills sit atop of the wild card race with only five games remaining. Their defense has played very well while 2nd-year QB Josh Allen has progressed nicely. The Cowboys have once again underachieved. Given their salary cap situation, if they don’t turn it around Jason Garrett will likely be given his pink slip. This is a big game for both teams. In a dandy, Ezekiel Elliott is the difference. DAL 24 BUF 20

Thanksgiving 8:20 New Orleans at Atlanta: The Falcons won two games in a row prior to a defeat last week to the Buccaneers. The writing is on the wall for Dan Quinn and his staff. The Saints are showing some weaknesses but are still in good shape regarding a first-round bye. Atlanta upset New Orleans in Week 10 – the Saints get their revenge. NO 31 ATL 23

San Francisco at Baltimore: The Niners lead the NFC with an impressive 10-1 record. They throttled the Packers on Sunday night with another dominant performance from their d-line. Jimmy Garoppolo is getting more comfortable. At this juncture, they are the favorites in the NFC. The Ravens have played at a similar level as the Niners. Baltimore, 9-2, laid the lumber to the Rams on Monday night. These two teams are old school squads that feature rugged defenses and focus on the run game. They met in Super Bowl XLVII in a classic which could be a preview for another Super Bowl meeting. In the game of the week, Lamar Jackson leads his team to their 10^th victory. BALT 27 SF 23

Tampa Bay at Jacksonville: Two Florida squads will square off in a game that is about transition. The Buccaneers will likely be moving on from Jameis Winston this offseason. The Jaguars may do the same with Nick Foles and most likely their coaching staff as well. Jacksonville forces Winston into key interceptions. JAX 27 TB 24

Tennessee at Indianapolis: A key AFC South tilt with both divisional and wild card implications will take place at Lucas Oil Field. The Titans have ground their way to a 6-5 record. They are playing much better on the offensive side of the ball with Ryan Tannehill under center. The Colts have lost three of their last four games including a tough loss last Thursday night at Houston. Injuries have stymied their offense. Tight end Eric Ebron is gone for the season, Marlon Mack will be out on Sunday and TY Hilton will likely be limited. In a tight game, the Titans running game is the difference. TEN 23 IND 16

Washington at Carolina: The Redskins defeated the Lions last weekend with rookie Dwayne Haskins under center. Selfie notwithstanding, Haskins showed promise. The Panthers lost a heartbreaker in New Orleans. The loss all but ended their playoff chances. Expect big performances by Kyle Allen and Christian McCaffrey. CAR 31 WASH 13

Philadelphia at Miami: Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense has struggled – in large part due to a rash of injuries. They are all but eliminated in the wild card chase but sit only one game behind Dallas in the NFC East. The Dolphins have suffered through a miserable season. Despite the growing pains, coach Brian Flores has remained even-keeled which speaks well for his and Miami’s future. Philly gets a much-needed victory. PHI 24 MIA 20

New York Jets at Cincinnati: The Jets have won three games in a row with Sam Darnold showing promise. They hammered the Raiders last weekend. The Bengals remain winless following a close loss to Pittsburgh. Andy Dalton will be the starter on Sunday. Dalton’s reinsertion into the lineup should improve their play on the offensive side of the ball. In a tight game, the Jets continue their winning streak. NYJ 31 CIN 24

Green Bay at New York Giants: The Packers were embarrassed on Sunday night at San Francisco. The loss drops them 8-3 in a tie with the Vikings in the NFC South. The G-Men continue to suffer through a miserable season. Rookie Daniel Jones has shown glimmers of hope but Saquon Barkley’s injuries have hampered the offense. Aaron Rodgers should find the pocket much more comfortable this week. GB 34 NYG 23

Cleveland at Pittsburgh: Much has been said and written regarding the last battle between these old bitter rivals – none of that will matter when they square off on Sunday in Pittsburgh. The game itself will have plenty of storylines but the main topic is playoff ramifications. The Browns have won three in a row behind a resurgent offense. Baker Mayfield has played well while the combination of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt has been a difficult matchup for opposing defenses. The Steelers ground out a victory last weekend in Cincinnati after benching Mason Rudolph in favor of Devlin Hodges. In another physical contest, the Browns remain in the playoff hunt. CLE 24 PIT 20

Los Angeles Rams at Arizona: The Super Bowl hangover has been in full effect this season for the Rams. They have underperformed all season, especially last Monday night in a 45-6 loss. Their playoff hopes are likely squelched. The Cardinals return from their bye week with a 3-7-1 record. Kyler Murray makes enough plays to give the Cards the home victory. ARI 27 LAR 24

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver: Two AFC West foes will square off in a game with the only significance in relation to the NFL Draft. The 4-7 Chargers will likely clean house this offseason. The same could be true for the 3-8 Broncos. Denver rookie Drew Lock could see the field this week. Phillip Rivers and the Bolts get the road victory. LAC 23 DEN 19

Oakland at Kansas City: The Raiders were on a high with fans in a playoff fervor – then the cross country trip to face the Jets quelled the enthusiasm. The 34-3 loss has the Silver & Black on the outside looking in with respect to the wild card chase. In the AFC West, they sit one game behind the first-place Chiefs which sets up a big game between the old foes. Kansas City returns from their bye still holding championship aspirations. Patrick Mahomes returns to form with a huge game in front of the Arrowhead faithful. KC 33 OAK 23

SNF New England at Houston: Tom Brady and his mates have not played to their expectations this season which has led to some frustration. Regardless, they are fifth in the league in PPG and first in the AFC with a 10-1. Bill Belichick has created a culture of leaders who understand the big picture even with unmatched success. The Texans sit in first place in the AFC South with a 7-4 record. They have shown glimpses of a championship-level team but have been inconsistent. Both Brady and Deshaun Watson play well but the New England defense is too much for the Texans to overcome. NE 27 HOU 20

MNF Minnesota at Seattle: The Vikings return from their bye week with an 8-3 record which has them tied with Green Bay atop the NFC North. They have enough talent to be a factor in the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks won a tough road contest in Philadelphia. Despite an impressive 9-2 record, they are one game behind the Niners in the NFC West. A shame a game of this quality is on ESPN; it deserves better. Kirk Cousins has the label of faltering on the prime time stage, but here he plays well with Dalvin Cook having a monster game. MIN 31 SEA 27

Week 12 Picks from Dryden: Vacation edition

Week 12 Picks from Scott Dryden: Vacation edition forecast for all the NFL games

Scott Dryden is on vacation this week but he still took the time to send in his picks for Week 12.

Last Week: 11-3 Season: 106-55

TNF: Indianapolis at Houston: Big game in the AFC South between divisional leaders. Deshaun Watson bounces back. HOU 27 IND 23

Oakland at New York Jets: The Raiders have their sights set on the playoffs, but Darnold and crew pull off the upset. Gruden scowls. NYJ 27 OAK 24

New York Giants at Chicago: Two storied franchises – blah blah – the Bears get the home win. CHI 23 NYG 16

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati: Mason Rudolph keeps his helmet on but the Bengals still knock him around. Cincy gets in the win column. CIN 20 PIT 15

Seattle at Philadelphia: Huge game for the Eagles who see their playoff hopes dissipating. The Seahawks are still in the NFC West hunt. In a dandy of a game, home-field advantage and the cross country trip are the difference. PHI 31 SEA 24

Tampa Bay at Atlanta: A game about nothing. Somehow the Falcons have rebounded. They continue their winning ways. ATL 31 TB 20

Miami at Cleveland: The Dolphins are bad – very bad. The Browns suffered an embarrassing win on Thursday night, yes an embarrassing win, but no time for pouting. Buck up and get the win, and the Browns do just that. CLE 27 MIA 17

Detroit at Washington: Ugly, ugly and more ugly; unless Matthew Stafford plays this will be the most unwatchable game of the weekend. In a yawner, the Skins get the win. WASH 23 DET 20

Denver at Buffalo: The Broncos are not good but they compete. The Bills are 7-3 yet are flying under the radar. Josh Allen and crew take care of business at home. BUF 31 DEN 16

Carolina at New Orleans: Kyle Allen and crew were throttled by Atlanta last week, as were the Saints the week prior. Drew Brees and company have their goals in sight. New Orleans seals the deal in the weak NFC South. NO 33 CAR 27

Jacksonville at Tennessee: Wild card positions are at stake, but even the great Brent Musberger could not glossy up this snooze fest. TEN 23 JAX 20

Dallas at New England: Two first teams will face off in a game that is one of the best of week 12. Dak Prescott is having a tremendous season. The 6-4 Cowboys are one game in front of the Eagles. The Patriots offense has struggled at times but their defense has been very good. Expect a physical game with Belichick doubling Amari Cooper throughout and slamming the run game. NE 27 DAL 23

SNF Green Bay at San Francisco: Two of the league’s most historic squads have bounced back in a big way this season. The 8-2 Packers are leading the NFC North but have the Vikings nipping at their heels. The 9-1 49ers are in the same situation in the NFC West with the Seahawks only one game behind them. This should be a dandy between two well-rounded teams. The San Francisco D-line is the difference. SF 28 GB 23

MNF Baltimore at Los Angeles Rams: The Ravens are among the league’s best teams. They play old fashioned football with a punishing running game and a physical defense. Lamar Jackson continues to ascend which is a problem for all AFC foes. The Rams have been disappointing this year but still have a shot at a wild card slot. The Super Bowl hangover is real along with teams appearing to gain a better grasp on Sean McVay’s offense. A loss would place LA in a precarious position. Expect a tight game with the Rams speed on defense along with a dominant performance by Aaron Donald being the difference. LAR 27 BALT 23

Bye Week: Arizona, Kansas City, LA Chargers, Minnesota

3 Keys to a Browns victory over the Steelers

The Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers are ready for some Thursday Night Football. The 3-6 Cleveland Browns will host the 5-4 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are currently riding a four game winning streak. They defeated the Los Angeles Rams last week 17-12 at home. Meanwhile the Browns are coming off a last minute win against the Buffalo Bills, 19-16.

For the Browns, their season remains on the line as they have to keep winning games from here on out. Here are three keys to a Browns victory:

HUNT AND CHUBB: It seems so simple sometimes. When Hunt was on the field with Chubb. There was an immediate impact. Hunt showed he can do it all with blocking, run, and make critical catches out of the slot or backfield. It didn’t impact Nick Chubb’s numbers on the ground either. Sure, you don’t want to take his numbers away but it’s nice to have a back-up that can keep Chubb fresh throughout the game.

FREDDIE KITCHENS: Freddie has been on the hot seat the past few weeks. A win over the Bills helped that for a week. Can he make it two in a row? Kitchens has shown he is clearly a rookie head coach. Maybe he is growing like this young. Can he make sure his guys keep the penalties down? Not make a bad challenge? Get the plays in on time? Keep the right players in at the right times? Last week, most would argue that the Browns despite Freddie. That might be true but it does seem like Freddie is starting to figure some things out.

Take away Conner or JuJu: The Steelers two studs on offense are clearly wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster and running back James Conner. For the Browns the simple equation is just take one of those away. For quarterback Mason Rudolph to find different options when his two games are struggling during the game.

The Browns and Steelers kick off at 8:20 p.m. on FOX. Browns are 3-point favorites.

Tale of the Tape: Browns vs. Steelers in Week 11

A statistical breakdown of the matchup between the host Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers for Week 11

How do the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers match up statistically heading into Thursday night’s game at FirstEnergy Stadium?

Here are some significant points from the tale of the tape between the two AFC North rivals.

Offense

The Steelers hold the edge in scoring average, 21.4 per game to the Browns’ 19.0.

Perhaps the biggest advantage the Browns have is in running the ball. Nick Chubb and the Cleveland rushing attack ranks 2nd in yards per carry at 5.2. Pittsburgh ranks 28th at just 3.5. In yards per game, the Browns average 123.9 (13th) to the Steelers and their 83.2 (27th).

Neither team is good in the red zone or on third downs. The Browns convert just 31.2 percent of third downs, just below Pittsburgh’s 36.1. Cleveland is better in the red zone, believe it or not, with a 46.7 TD rate to the Steelers’ 39.1 on the season.

Turnovers

One big area where the Steelers hold an advantage is turnovers. Pittsburgh is second in the NFL with 26 forced takeaways. Their overall plus-13 turnover ratio is also second-best (to New England in both categories).

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Cleveland sits near the bottom at minus-8 overall. The team has gone two weeks in a row without a giveaway, but a lack of forced turnovers from the defense — just nine on the season, or averaging one per game — hasn’t helped the ratio rise up very high.

Defense

The Browns rank 21st in PPG allowed at 24.6, well below the Steelers at No. 10 in allowing 20.1 points per game.

In pass defense, the Steelers also crack the top 10 with a QB Rating allowed of just 82.8 (6th). Cleveland’s 99.4 QB Rating allowed ranks 22nd. The interceptions for both teams factors in here.

The gap is narrower in yards per pass attempt, where the Steelers still have the advantage, 6.4 to 7.0. Both teams are in the middle of the NFL pack with those figures. Cleveland allows a lower completion percentage, 63.6 to Pittsburgh’s 64.7.

The two teams diverge in run defense. Pittsburgh is a full yard per carry better than the Browns, 3.9 to 4.9.

NFL Week 11 Picks from Dryden

Scott Dryden breaks down the NFL Week 11 slate of games

Last Week: 5-8 Season: 95-52

TNF Pittsburgh at Cleveland: Despite massive changes to their lineup, the Steelers continue to play competitive football. They have won four in a row including a dominant defensive performance versus the Rams. The Browns won a hard-fought contest versus the Bills.

The combination of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will be difficult for opposing defenses. Two old, bitter rivals on the prime time stage should result in a physically intense game. In a tight slobber knocker, Chubb and the Browns running game is the difference. CLE 23 PIT 20

Houston at Baltimore: Two of the biggest young stars in the NFL will be featured in a battle of division leaders. Deshaun Watson and the Texans return from their bye with a one-game lead in the AFC South. Watson has been brilliant again this year. Lamar Jackson is as exciting to watch as any player in the NFL. His passing mechanics have improved within a system that allows him to show off his dynamic running ability. In a thriller, the home field is the difference. BALT 33 HOU 30

Denver at Minnesota: The Broncos return from their bye with a 3-6 record. They will once again have Brandon Allen under center despite rookie Drew Lock returning from injury. The Vikings earned a big win on Sunday night in Dallas. At 7-3, Minnesota is a good position for a wild card spot and only one game behind the first-place Packers. Expect another big game from Dalvin Cook. MIN 27 DEN 10

Jacksonville at Indianapolis: The Jaguars return from their bye week with a 4-5 record, good for last place in the competitive AFC South. They will reinsert Nick Foles, who returns from an injury, into the starting lineup. The Colts laid a huge egg in their embarrassing home loss to the Dolphins. Backup QB Brian Hoyer could not get the job done. Jacoby Brissett could return from injury which will light a fire under a team that desperately needs a victory. In a tight game, the Jags get a key road victory. JAX 23 IND 20

New Orleans at Tampa Bay: The old adage “Any Given Sunday” certainly applied last week in New Orleans. The Saints were flat in a shocking loss to the hapless Falcons. The Saints are in control of the division but need wins to get a first round bye. The Buccaneers are showing improvement under Bruce Arians. Expect Drew Brees and company to control the clock and earn a hard fought victory. NO 24 TB 21

New York Jets at Washington: The Jets put 34 points versus their neighbors, the New York Giants. Yes a win is a win but their defense struggled mightily. They will face a Redskins squad that returns from their bye with only one victory. Darnold vs Haskins is intriguing but the game itself plays like one featuring two teams with only three combined victories. The Skins grind out an ugly victory. WASH 20 NYJ 16

Dallas at Detroit: The 5-4 Cowboys are tied atop the AFC East but are under heavy scrutiny. There is little doubt the team is underachieving which has head coach Jason Garrett in the crosshairs. Despite a bevy of talent, outside of their division the Cowboys have struggled mightily. The Lions were without Matthew Stafford last week versus the Bears. His return will ignite their offense. In a key game for both teams, Ezekiel Elliott is the difference. DAL 34 DET 27

Buffalo at Miami: The Bills suffered a tough loss last week in Cleveland which places them two games behind the first place Patriots. QB Josh Allen is showing growth but their o-line needs to improve as do their wideouts. The Dolphins are playing hard for HC Brian Flores. They lack talent but are a gritty bunch. Miami keeps it close but the Bills defense along with big plays by Allen are too much. BUF 27 MIA 20

Atlanta at Carolina; The bye week, along with coaching assignment changes, served the Falcons well. They pulled off the upset of the week – maybe the year – with an impressive performance in New Orleans. The Panthers are playing well with Kyle Allen under center. They suffered a heartbreaking loss in the snow versus Green Bay. Allen and McCaffrey have big days. CAR 33 ATL 20

Arizona at San Francisco: Kyler Murray once again was impressive, albeit in losing fashion. The rookie QB threw for 324 yards with three touchdowns in a three-point defeat at Tampa. His young receivers Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella are starting to come on. The Niners were knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten in a thriller on Monday night versus the Seahawks. Despite the difficult defeat, they still control their own destiny in the NFC West. The Niners bounce back. SF 31 ARI 23

Cincinnati at Oakland: The Bengals benched Andy Dalton in favor of rookie Ryan Finley. It didn’t help as they were lambasted 49-13 by the Ravens. Their defense continues to struggle with no hope in the near horizon. The Raiders are one of the surprise teams despite a bevy of injuries. The earned a hard-fought victory last Thursday night versus the Chargers. Expect a big game from rookie running back Josh Jacobs keeping the Silver & Black in the playoff hunt. OAK 34 CIN 16

New England at Philadelphia: Both teams return from their bye week for a rematch of Super Bowl LII, and each is in first place. The Patriots sit alone atop of the AFC East with a record of 8-1 which is best in the AFC. The Eagles are now tied in the NFC East. Expect a boisterous Philly crowd. In a tight game, the Patriots get back into the win column behind running backs in the passing game. NE 24 PHI 20

SNF Chicago at Los Angeles Rams: The Bears are not a thing of beauty but they managed get the victory over the undermanned Lions. The victory moved the Bears to 4-5 on the season. Sean McVay’s explosive offense appears to be a thing of the past. Their offense was manhandled last week in Pittsburgh, managing only 12 points. In 2018, the Rams averaged 32.9 PPG which was good for 2^nd in the NFL. This year they are scoring 25 per game which is tenth in the league. These two teams had an epic battle in week 14 last season but neither team is playing to that level this season. In a must-win game for both teams, the Rams grind out the victory. LAR 23 CHI 16

MNF Kansas City at Los Angeles Chargers: Patrick Mahomes is back. He played well but, unfortunately for the Chiefs fans, Kansas City suffered a tough loss at Tennessee. Mahomes threw for 446 yards with three touchdowns in the 35-32 defeat. The Chargers surge was thwarted on Thursday night versus the Raiders. At 4-6, the Bolts may have already ran out of time. LA will attempt to run the ball to keep Mahomes off the field – it won’t matter. The Kansas City offense hits several big plays moving them to 7-4 on the season. KC 31 LAC 20

Bye Week: Green Bay, New York Giants, Seattle, Tennessee