CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Kevin Stefanski will play some of his starters, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, in Atlanta Sunday night but that isn’t where the focus of the front office will be.
With the final round of roster cuts to get down to 53 due by 4 p.m. Tuesday, the preseason finale is a last chance to make the club for those players who are sitting on the bubble.
Here are the jobs that could be up for grabs Sunday night.
The sixth receiver.
Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and third-round pick Anthony Schwartz are locks to make the team leaving one spot open, assuming the Browns stick with the customary six players at the position. JoJo Natson and KhaDarel Hodge appear to be fighting for the final spot, that is assuming that jack of all trades Demetric Felton is classified as a running back. If they bunch him in with the receivers, game over. Natson and Hodge are gone because Felton is on the team regardless of where he is listed. Natson has the edge up on Hodge because of his ability to return plus he is scheduled to make $1.27 million versus the $2.133 million Hodge would be on the books for.
A fourth running back?
Do the Browns keep four running backs? Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are locked in. Felton too. That essentially puts D’Ernest Johnson on the bubble by default. Johnson is valued on special teams which bolsters his case, and he can help himself further Sunday night.
The fourth tight end
The season ending injury to Stephen Carlson left a hole in the roster. Stefanski’s affinity for and use of tight ends within his offense requires depth at the position despite having Austin Hooper, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant. The Browns claimed Kyle Markway, who spent most of last season on the practice squad, off waivers from the Rams this week and he will get a look against the Falcons. Fullback Johnny Stanton IV got some reps at the position against the Giants, and it stands to reason he’ll get more. Should he perform well, the Browns could keep a second fullback on the roster to fill the void but the odds seem long.
Kicker
The quadriceps injury to Cody Parkey, who went 11 for 11 in the playoffs on field goals and PATs, that resulted in him being placed on and subsequently released from injured reserve likely threw a wrinkle into the Browns plans. Chase McLaughlin is the lone kicker on the roster, but the job is hardly his by default. Stefanski will play for a field goal situation or two or three Sunday night to test him. He can win the job or force the Browns to find their Week 1 kicker next week.
No. 4 defensive end
The return of Takkarist McKinley, who is the third defensive end behind Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, this week had to be a huge sigh of relief for the Browns. Porter Gustin appears to have the edge for the fourth spot on the depth chart but isn’t a lock. Joe Jackson and Cameron Malveaux can state their case to bump Gustin with a strong performance against the Falcons.
Defensive tackle depth
With Malik Jackson and Andrew Billings penciled in as the starters, the depth behind them is very much in play. Fourth-round pick Tommy Togiai will make the team but likely be last on the depth chart at the position. Jordan Elliott, Sheldon Day, Malik McDowell and Marvin Wilson are vying for two, maybe three spots between them. McDowell, who hasn’t played since college in 2016 at Michigan State due to an ATV accident and legal problems, has impressed during the preseason beyond his 6-foot-6, 295-pound frame.
The extra DBs
Reminiscent of 2020, the Browns are beat up in the secondary, but Joe Woods’ nickel and dime packages require plenty of safeties and corners.
The Browns could keep up to 10 DBs on the roster because of their importance. They need safety Grant Delpit (hamstring) along with corners Greedy Williams (groin) and M.J. Stewart Jr. (hamstring) to get healthy in time to travel to Kansas City. Fifth-round pick Richard LeCounte III and Sheldrick Redwine likely round out the safeties behind Ronnie Harrison, John Johnson III and Delpit, assuming the 2020 second round pick is healthy in time. If not, maybe a job opens up. With Williams sidelined again at corner, coupled with Denzel Ward and Troy Hill missing time during camp, A.J. Green was able to get plenty of snaps with the first-team defense, but is the 2020 undrafted free agent ready to be the No. 4 corner if Williams isn’t ready for Week 1? A strong performance against the Falcons could help put the Browns’ minds at ease.
