BEREA, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 10 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The Browns have a roster built around several stars, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, running Nick Chubb and defensive end Myles Garrett. But Cleveland will still have several difficult decisions to make at the end of its roster.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Here is the final projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson
The Browns traded Joshua Dobbs earlier in the week, clearing the way for DTR to take over as the No. 2 QB. The fifth-round pick out of UCLA has had an excellent training camp, firmly positioning himself to be Cleveland's long-term, backup QB for the foreseeable future.
RUNNING BACK (3): Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Demetric Felton Jr.
Though he's had a terrific preseason, the Browns could shop Felton to another team in need of a versatile playmaker and returner. But with Ford still working his way back from a hamstring injury, the Browns could be on the hunt for an experienced rusher to round out the room.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, Marquise Goodwin, David Bell, Austin Watkins Jr
Just as he returned from last year's season-ending Achilles injury, Jakeem Grant was carted off the field Saturday after suffering a right knee injury on the opening kickoff in Kansas City. Before that, he was a lock to make the team. Watkins came out of nowhere this training camp to warrant a spot. Should Goodwin not make the opening roster due to his blood clot issue, it will open up a spot, whether here or another position.
TIGHT END (3): David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Jordan Akins
Bryant missed almost all of training camp with what coach Kevin Stefanski has termed a "medical issue." Should that persist, Cleveland could have a depth issue here.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Jedrick Wills Jr., Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, James Hudson III, Dawand Jones, Luke Wypler, Michael Dunn
Jones has been one of the surprises of training camp. The mammoth rookie out of Ohio State could be ready to help much sooner than originally thought.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire, Jordan Elliott, Siaki Ika
The Browns signed Harris during training camp to solidify the interior of the line. Wright underwent knee surgery near the beginning of training camp but could return early in the season.
LINEBACKER (6): Anthony Walker Jr., Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Sione Takitaki, Jordan Kunaszyk, Tony Fields II, Mohamoud Diabate
In the wake of a terrific training camp, Diabate edges out veteran special teams ace Matthew Adams for the final spot at linebacker. The undrafted rookie out of Utah had a safety, then a forced fumble in Cleveland's preseason game against the Eagles.
CORNERBACK (6): Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Martin Emerson Jr., A.J. Green, Cameron Mitchell, Mike Ford
The Browns had a roster crunch in the secondary before the Dobbs trade. Now they have the flexibility to keep five safeties and six cornerbacks, barring a trade.
SAFETY (5): Grant Delpit, Juan Thornhill, Rodney McLeod, D'Anthony Bell, Ronnie Hickman
Hickman, who had three interceptions in two preseason games, made a surprising case for a roster spot, despite being an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State. If the Browns keep five safeties, as expected, Hickman will make the squad.
SPECIALISTS (3): Charley Hughlett (LS), Cade York (K), Corey Bojorquez (P)
Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry have stood by York, even though the second-year kicker has struggled this preseason, including Saturday -- where York missed another potential game-winning field goal in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs.