With Cutdown Day taking place yesterday, here are my thoughts on how the Browns roster looks going into the season. 

Offense

Quarterbacks – DeShaun Watson is the starter, no surprise there, but keeping four QBs? Pretty surprising. It looks like the Browns are still trying to trade either Jameis Winston or Tyler Huntley and if they kept them, they must feel they're close to something. Dorian Robinson-Thompson looks like he’s made the current roster, but until this situation plays out, it’s unclear. 

Running backs – This was also a little surprising, though maybe brought on by the QB surplus. As of now, the Browns are only rostering two running backs with Pierre Strong and Jerome Ford making the final cut. Surprisingly, veteran RB D’Onta Foreman was released, not making the final roster. It’s quite possible that they expect Nick Chubb (PUP) and Nyheim Hines (NFI) to both make returns after Week 4 when both would be eligible to do so.  

Cuts – D'Onta Foreman, Aidan Robbins, Jacob Saylors.  

Wide Receivers – No shock here if you read my training camp preview as they kept all the players that I predicted they would, but one (James Proche II) and I was unsure if they would keep seven receivers or not. In any case it looks like Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and Elijah Moore are the starters with David Bell, Cedrick Tillman, and Jamari Thrash as the backups. 

Cuts – Ahmarean Brown, Jaelon Darden, James Proche II, Michael Woods II. 

Tight Ends – David Njoku is locked as a starter in Cleveland if he’s here, so it’s no surprise he made the final roster. Jordan Akins is the backup (and only other TE on the active roster).  

Cuts – Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Treyton Welch. 

Offensive Linemen – Jedrick Wills Jr., Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin are listed as starters for now, but given the rate at which Browns linemen were injured last year you have to expect someone among Dawand Jones, Zak Zinter, James Hudson III, Nick Harris, or Javion Cohen will see significant playing time. 

Cuts – Wyatt Davis, Germain Ifedi, Zack Johnson, Roy Mbaeteka, Chim Okorafor, Lorenzo Thompson. Michael Dunn (NFI), Luke Wypler (Injury Settlement). 

Defense

Defensive Line – All-World DE Myles Garrett heads this position group but for the Browns to make noise in the postseason, they’ll need his opposite number Za’Darius Smith to bring heat from the other side too. Dalvin Thomlinson and Shelby Harris round out the starters for this group. Maurice Hurst III and Quinton Jefferson provide depth up the middle while Ogbo Okoronkwo, Isaiah McGuire, and Alex Wright spell the ends. 

Cuts – Jowon Briggs, Siaki Ika, Sam Kamara, Jeremiah Martin, Isaiah Thomas. Michael Hall Jr. (Commissioner's Exempt List). 

Linebackers – Former Steeler Devin Bush lines up for the Brownies now, starting at Strongside Linebacker. Jordan Hicks is the Mike Linebacker, and JOK (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah) are the other starters. Tony Fields II, Mohamoud Diabate, and Nathaniel Watson complete the linebacking corps for your 2024 Browns. 

Cuts – Landon Honeycutt, Caleb Johnson, Marvin Moody, Winston Reid. 

Cornerbacks – No surprises here, Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II are your starters here, and, as a duo, might be the best secondary in the NFL. Cameron Mitchell (no, not of the restaurant empire, the other one), Kalef Hailassie, Martin Emerson Jr., and Myles Harden are the backups. 

Cuts – Tony Brown II, Justin Hardee Sr., Faion Hicks. 

Safeties – Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill are your Safeties (Strong and Free, respectively). Rodney McLeod Jr., Ronnie Hickman, and D’Anthony Bell provide depth. 

Cuts – Brady Breeze, Tyler Coyle, Chris Edmonds, Chase Williams.

Specialists 

Specialists – Dustin Hopkins is your kicker, Charlie Hughlett is the long snapper, and Corey Bojorquez will handle the punting duties. 

Cuts – Lukas Havrisik, Rex Sunahara. 

Wrap-up

Looking at this roster, it’s a solid, strong roster, but (and stop me if you’ve heard this before), it will only go as far as the arm of DeShaun Watson will take them. 

If Nick Chubb comes back and looks like his usual dominating self, that’s a good sign. If the receivers are trouble on a week-in-week-out basis, that’s great too. And if the O-line can avoid injury and play to the level we know they can, you might really have something. The defense will be solid, maybe even able to replicate 2023 when they led the NFL in yards allowed. If Watson can’t reclaim his pre-suspension form though, it won’t matter how the rest of the team performs, it’ll be just another wasted season. 

Looking at the cuts from other teams around the league, I think there are pieces out there that could help this team, and they’ll surely make moves prior to the season opener against the Cowboys on September 8, but it still comes down to one man and if he can regain his form. 

Prediction – Third in the AFC North and eliminated in the Wild Card Round.