The projections for the Cleveland Browns 53-man roster were blown out of the water before the players even got on the field. Two players who were definitely making the final 53-man roster, OG Drew Forbes and DT Andrew Billings, opted out.
Three other Browns also opted out, though only guard Colby Gossett was a serious contender to make the final roster. The shifting on the offensive line changes the projection calculus.
Here’s where we’re at now with the 53-man projection…
QB – 3
Big change here. Garrett Gilbert now makes the final spot after being omitted earlier.
RB – 4
Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, Dontrell Hilliard. No change.
FB – 1
Andy Janovich. No change.
TE – 4
Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Stephen Carlson. No change.
WR – 5
Odell Beckham Jr. Jarvis Landry, KhaDarel Hodge, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones. Dropped one here to make room for the extra QB. Sorry, Damion Ratley.
OL – 9
We know the starting five will be (L-R) Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin. Chris Hubbard, Nick Harris and Kendall Lamm are the current reserves. I don’t think the ninth lineman is currently in Cleveland, with apologies to Evan Brown and Willie Wright. They’ll both make the practice squad and the liberal new rules on call-ups.
DL – 9
Starters (L-R) are Myles Garrett, Larry Ogunjobi, Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon. Adrian Clayborn is a lock at DE, as is rookie DT Jordan Elliott. I think Chad Thomas will get every chance to prove he belongs with a new regime. I’ll add in Porter Gustin and Daniel Ekuale, though it wouldn’t surprise me if the ninth guy here is a nose tackle not currently on the roster.
LB – 5
No changes here. B.J. Goodson, Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki, Jacob Phillips, Willie Harvey. That fifth spot is vulnerable to an outsider.
CB – 6
Swap in newcomer M.J. Stewart at the expense of UDFA A.J. Green, who will stick on the practice squad. Stewart joins Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Kevin Johnson, Terrance Mitchell and Tavierre Thomas, who is the Browns’ best special teams player.
S – 4
No change. Grant Delpit, Andrew Sendejo, Karl Joseph, Sheldrick Redwine. There could be a fifth here in J.T. Hassell, who can also double at OLB.
Specialist – 3
Not even a competition this year for PK Austin Seibert or P Jamie Gillan, with LS Charley Hughlett back for more as well.