CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Spring often feels short in Northeast Ohio and the Browns offseason program this spring certainly felt short -- probably because it was.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski cut out a week of voluntary practice since the team is reporting early to training camp this year, a result of participating in the Hall of Fame Game on August 3.
With training camp comes roster projections and the end of mandatory minicamp offers an opportunity to see where things stand. We had glimpses of who was playing and where over the last three weeks.
This, of course, is all just an exercise. Cut-down day is more than two months away. Young players will emerge while others slide. Injuries will wreak havoc, like they always do. Opportunities to add talent will present themselves.
In other words, yes, it’s too early for this. But it’s still worth doing just to get an idea of which positions are set, which battles will develop and which players you might not expect are on the bubble.
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Quarterback (3)
Joshua Dobbs, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Deshaun Watson
Toughest cut: Kellen Mond
Even without the new rule allowing teams to dress an emergency quarterback, Thompson-Robinson would have to make the initial 53-man roster to avoid waivers, where he would certainly get claimed. Dobbs is locked in as the backup behind Watson while Mond can remain on the practice squad.
Running back (3)
Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton Jr., Jerome Ford
Toughest cut: John Kelly Jr.
Chubb and Ford are set and, yes, that’s Felton listed as a running back. It’s where he spent most of his time in the practices we watched this spring and he seems to be in line with what the Browns want to accomplish at the position.
Tight end (3)
Jordan Akins, Harrison Bryant, David Njoku
Toughest cut: Zaire Mitchell-Paden
Bryant spent the spring ahead of Akins, but the two have distinctly different roles with Bryant playing more in-line while Akins will spend more time split out like a receiver.
Wide receiver (6)
Amari Cooper, Marquise Goodwin, Jakeem Grant Sr., Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cedric Tillman
Toughest cut: David Bell
It’s hard to imagine Andrew Berry would cut such a recent draft pick. Taking away from another position would create space for Bell, but this is more a reminder of how tight this room will be. Between Bell and Grant -- if Grant is close to 100 percent by the end of August after rupturing his Achilles last year -- Grant simply does more. It’s likely Bell could make it through waivers, too, considering his quiet rookie season. The point here isn’t to say Bell’s out -- it’s June -- it’s to reinforce that everyone has to battle this camp, especially at crowded positions.
Interior offensive line (6)
Joel Bitonio, Michael Dunn, Nick Harris, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Luke Wypler
Toughest cut: Drew Forbes
Harris was the second center behind Pocic in the spring, but keep an eye on his status. It might come down to how the Browns feel about him playing guard, especially with Wypler in the mix at center. Dunn has been reliable, but the final interior spot is up for grabs.
Offensive tackle (4)
Jack Conklin, James Hudson, Dawand Jones, Jedrick Wills Jr.
This group feels straightforward, with two clear starters, a 2023 draft pick in Jones and Hudson, who has been developing as the swing tackle for a while.
Defensive end (6)
Myles Garrett, Isaiah McGuire, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Za’Darius Smith, Isaiah Thomas, Alex Wright
Thomas and Wright seem safe for now, but both have a ways to go to make an impact in this group. The top of the position is set and Smith’s ability to play inside will be a fun toy for Jim Schwartz up front.
Defensive tackle (4)
Jordan Elliott, Maurice Hurst II, Siaki Ika, Dalvin Tomlinson
Toughest cut: Tommy Togiai
More than four feels like a stretch considering the versatility at end. Winfrey would represent another 2022 draft pick gone, but it’s hard to justify keeping him given questions about his maturity. He also recently faced a misdemeanor assault charge in Harris County, Texas. Court records show the case has been dismissed following completion of a pretrial diversion program.
Linebacker (5)
Matthew Adams, Tony Fields II, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Sione Takitaki, Anthony Walker Jr.
Toughest cut: Jacob Phillips
This position, more than any other, is dependent on who is and isn’t healthy by the start of the season. Walker and Takitaki are both coming back from season-ending injuries and Takitaki’s torn ACL was suffered in December. Adams and Fields make it for their work on special teams and Philips and Jordan Kunaszyk would be next up if Takitaki and Walker aren’t ready.
Cornerback (6)
Martin Emerson Jr., Mike Ford, Thomas Graham Jr., Cameron Mitchell, Greg Newsome II, Denzel Ward
Toughest cut: A.J. Green III
We’ll get a clearer picture of the bottom of this position as camp goes along, so between Graham, Green and Chris Westry, there’s a battle for the final spot. The ability to use a third safety in the slot creates some flexibility. Ford was brought here as a special teams ace for Bubba Ventrone.
Safety (4)
D’Anthony Bell, Grant Delpit, Rodney McLeod, Juan Thornhill
Toughest cut: Ronnie Hickman Jr.
The battle for the final safety spot also includes Hickman, Tanner McCalister -- two undrafted Ohio State players -- and Bubba Bolden. The key will be special teams, where Bell played a ton a year ago. Impress Ventrone and the fourth safety spot could be yours.
Specialists (3)
Cade York (kicker), Corey Bojorquez (punter), Charley Hughlett (long snapper)
Nothing to see here. The specialists are set.
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