2021 53-Man Roster Cut Discussion

[Vee-Rex]

I think we keep Gustin (or sign another FA EDGE) and drop Smith or Fields. With Clowney being "injury prone", Takk a niche DE and Weaver an unknown, I imagine we'll want a bit more depth there.

I can also see us rolling with 5 safeties since Delpit is still a question mark and Harrison gets injured every other play. List looks good otherwise.

 

[Bkerr02]

I wonder if they keep 6 wrs, given how much they go 2te or 2rb and Felton's ability to play in the slot. Wouldn't surprise me to see them keep 10 DL and 5 WRs

I think we are going to start seeing less and less 2 TE sets. I think a lot of those 2 TE sets were to help bring baker along with the system and really rely on the run game to get him comfortable. We say that after the bye week, the 2 TE sets were used less.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

2021 Cleveland Browns 53-Man Roster Prediction

Offense (25)
QB (2): Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum
Out: Kyle Lauletta

RB (3): Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Demetric Felton
Out: D'Ernest Johnson, John Kelly

FB (1): Andy Janovich
Out: Johnny Stanton

TE (4): Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, David Njoku, Stephen Carlson
Out: Jordan Franks, Kyle Markway

WR (6): Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz, KhaDarel Hodge
Out: Ja'Marcus Bradley, Alexander Hollins, JoJo Natson, Ryan Switzer, Derrick Willies

OL (9): Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, James Hudson, Michael Dunn, Nick Harris, Drew Forbes
Out: Blake Hance, Chris Hubbard, Greg Senat, Javon Patterson, Colby Gossett, Alex Taylor

Special Teams (3)
K (1): Cody Parkey
P (1): Jamie Gillan
LS (1): Charley Hughlett

Defense (25)
DE (4): Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, Takk McKinley, Curtis Weaver
Out: Porter Gustin, Joe Jackson, Cameron Malveaux

DT (5): Andrew Billings, Jordan Elliott, Malik Jackson, Tommy Togiai, Marvin Wilson
Out: Sheldon Day

LB (6): Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jacob Phillips, Malcolm Smith, Sione Takitaki, Tony Fields
Out: Mack Wilson, Elijah Lee, Montrel Meander

CB (6): Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Troy Hill, Greedy Williams, Robert Jackson, AJ Green
Out: Brian Allen, EJ Stewart

S (4): John Johnson, Ronnie Harrison, Grant Delpit, Richard LeCounte
Out: Sheldrick Redwine, Jovante Moffatt, Elijah Benton

This is pretty close to my guess.

I feel like we're bound to be surprised on the offensive line. Maybe Forbes gets left out after being away from football last year? Maybe Harris is a surprise cut because they feel he just will never be strong enough to play center? I'm not sure, but nailing all 9 guys seems a daunting task.

On the defensive line, my surprise cut candidates would be Weaver or Elliott. I know Elliott was just a third-round pick last year, but if he's the third 3-tech in the pecking order, there's a tiny little chance he could be on the chopping block. Odds are he sticks around, but he's going to have to produce in short order.

I wouldn't be surprised if we went down to 5 LB's and up to 5 safeties... but they could also say JOK fills some safety roles, and keep the position numbers the way you have them. If we go down to 5 safeties, I wonder if Malcolm Smith moves to greener pastures.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I think we are going to start seeing less and less 2 TE sets. I think a lot of those 2 TE sets were to help bring baker along with the system and really rely on the run game to get him comfortable. We say that after the bye week, the 2 TE sets were used less.

A couple issues were going on simultaneously when the Browns went tight end heavy. Let's remember the weather and especially the wind in Cleveland was brutal two weeks in a row.

Additionally, the two right end sets were designed for Landry and OBJ to rack up a lot of vertical targets, but OBJ was gone. The Browns needed new ways to push the boundaries of the safeties.

A good offense will be a varied offense. Schwartz provides an interesting new wrinkle.

 

[Bkerr02]

A couple issues were going on simultaneously when the Browns went right end heavy. Let's remember the weather and especially the wind in Cleveland was brutal two weeks in a row.

Additionally, the two right end sets were designed for Landry and OBJ to rack up a lot of vertical targets, but OBJ was gone. The Browns needed new ways to push the boundaries of the safeties.

A good offense will be a varied offense. Schwartz provides an interesting new wrinkle.

It’s nice to have a head coach that actually tailors the offense to the strength of his players. Hell he even did it mid season with baker. It will be interesting to see the type of offense this year brings especially with the development of DPJ and Higgins and such.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Does Stephen Carlson have certain traits that ensure he is on the roster come the start of the season?

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

This is pretty close to my guess.

I feel like we're bound to be surprised on the offensive line. Maybe Forbes gets left out after being away from football last year? Maybe Harris is a surprise cut because they feel he just will never be strong enough to play center? I'm not sure, but nailing all 9 guys seems a daunting task.

On the defensive line, my surprise cut candidates would be Weaver or Elliott. I know Elliott was just a third-round pick last year, but if he's the third 3-tech in the pecking order, there's a tiny little chance he could be on the chopping block. Odds are he sticks around, but he's going to have to produce in short order.

I wouldn't be surprised if we went down to 5 LB's and up to 5 safeties... but they could also say JOK fills some safety roles, and keep the position numbers the way you have them. If we go down to 5 safeties, I wonder if Malcolm Smith moves to greener pastures.

I think the DT's may have a lot of surprises as well. Lots of bodies who didn't play here last year, and whoever comes into camp in shape and hungry is going to have a leg up on guys that may have more talent. Of course, it'd be nice if the talented guys came in the same way.....

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Does Stephen Carlson have certain traits that ensure he is on the roster come the start of the season?

Maybe, maybe not.

But who are we leaving off the roster for him? Do we want to carry 7 WRers? or 10 OL? More defenders?

Idk, I like him enough. Could be our TE2 in a year or so.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Maybe, maybe not.

But who are we leaving off the roster for him? Do we want to carry 7 WRers? or 10 OL? More defenders?

Idk, I like him enough. Could be our TE2 in a year or so.

I wouldn't be surprised if we only carried 4 te/fb. An additional lineman, 4th rb, or third qb is always an option.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

I'd be willing to free that slot for the defensive side of the ball. Hopefully some of these defensive line reclamation projects force such a decision.

He has been solid in his time thus far with us, have no beef with the guy. Just barring injuries, 4 guys between TE and FB is a good number.

Maybe, maybe not.

But who are we leaving off the roster for him? Do we want to carry 7 WRers? or 10 OL? More defenders?

Idk, I like him enough. Could be our TE2 in a year or so.

 

[Douglar]

Anyone want to dive in an make guesses about who is in on the D-line?

What will it be: 10 offensive line men? 7 Receivers ? 5 Running backs ? or 5 tight ends?

 

[CBBI]

Anyone want to dive in an make guesses about who is in on the D-line?

What will it be: 10 offensive line men? 7 Receivers ? 5 Running backs ? or 5 tight ends?

2 QB (Mayfield, Keenum)
4 RB (Chubb, Hunt, Johnson, Felton)
1 FB (Janovich)
6 WR (Beckham, Landry, Peoples-Jones, Higgins, Schwartz, Hodge)
3 TE (Hooper, Njoku, Bryant)
9 OL (Wills, Bitonio, Tretter, Teller, Conklin, Hudson, Dunn, Harris, Hubbard)

3 ST (K, P, LS)

9 DL (Garrett, M. Jackson, Billings, Clowney, Gustin, Elliott, Toigai, McKinley, Wilson)
6 LB (Walker, JOK, Smith, Takitaki, Wilson, Lee)
6 CB (Ward, Newsome, Hill, Williams, Green, Jackson)
4 S (Johnson, Harrison, Delpit, LeCounte)

Is my guess.

 

[Cement]

Billings was a massive disappointment yesterday - he looked like he was on skates and if he can't stop the run he's useless. I could see him being a surprise cut.

McDowell, on the other hand, was awfully impressive against 3rd stringers - need to see how he does vs actual NFL players.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Everybody still sleeping on Sheldon Day.

He was a starting three tech with that incredible 49ers defense, then followed DeForest Buckner to his hometown Colts.

A knee injury ruined his season last year, but his ties to Chris Kiffin and Joe Woods from that 49er defense run deep. His success in preseason games are coming against the opponent's starters and 2nd team. That counts more to me than what Malik McDowell does in the fourth quarter.

 

[adam81king]

Everybody still sleeping on Sheldon Day.

He was a starting three tech with that incredible 49ers defense, then followed DeForest Buckner to his hometown Colts.

A knee injury ruined his season last year, but his ties to Chris Kiffin and Joe Woods from that 49er defense run deep. His success in preseason games are coming against the opponent's starters and 2nd team. That counts more to me than what Malik McDowell does in the fourth quarter.

I could see Day and McDowell making it and Billings being cut or traded.

...either way, AB has done a damn good job at stuffing this roster full of talent.