BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns open the 2021 NFL regular season at the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 12 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns finished 2020 at 11-5, tied for second in the AFC North, before losing to the Chiefs in the divisional round.
Unlike past seasons, Cleveland's roster was largely settled well before training camp, thanks to an offense that returned 11 starters, plus all of its key backups, from last year. Still, a revamped defense has created multiple position battles on the other side of the ball.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum
The Browns remain bullish on Mayfield as their franchise quarterback, despite not yet committing a long-term extension to him. Keenum has proved to be a valuable sounding board for Mayfield, on top of being a capable backup passer. Kyle Lauletta shined throughout camp and will likely be headed to the practice squad if he's not picked up elsewhere.
RUNNING BACK (4): Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Demetric Felton, D'Ernest Johnson
Deciding whether to keep Johnson will be among the Browns' toughest roster decisions. The emergence of Felton -- a sixth-round pick this year -- with the versatility to also play receiver and return kicks, has seemingly made Johnson expendable. At the same time, Johnson is talented enough to probably be the No. 2 back for several NFL teams. He's also a key contributor on special teams, that includes being a reliable kick returner.
So what will the Browns do? That will hinge on how much Cleveland prioritizes special teams -- and keeping one of its better backups -- versus having positional balance on the roster.
FULLBACK (1): Andy Janovich
Janovich helped pave openings in short yardage for Chubb and Hunt last year, and will be counted on to do the same. The Browns do have a viable alternative in Johnny Stanton IV, who is starting to get a look at tight end, as well. But Janovich is the veteran, and Cleveland might be able to get Stanton to its practice squad.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz
Peoples-Jones might have been the MVP of training camp, developing a rapport with Mayfield heading into his second season; Higgins already has that rapport, providing the Browns with two reliable backups behind OBJ and Landry. Schwartz, a third-round pick this year, has been slowed by a hamstring injury all training camp, but he brings tantalizing speed the Browns will want to develop, even if he contributes little in games this year. That seemingly would edge KhaDarel Hodge out, even though he was lights out in preseason. Felton's potential to double as a receiver also hurts Hodge, who, with a salary of $2.13 million, stands to make a lot of money (too much money?) for a special teams ace.
TIGHT END (3): Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Harrison Bryant
The Browns lost No. 4 tight end Stephen Carlson to a season-ending knee injury during the preseason opener. Carlson was a special-teams hoss and capable pass-catcher. Cleveland will eventually keep four tight ends, but that fourth tight end is likely to come via the waiver wire. Though Hooper and Njoku are the starters, the Browns view Bryant in a similar vein. Bryant will play a ton this year for Stefanski, who had two or more tight ends on the field more than 50% of the time last season.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Jedrick Wills Jr., Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard, Nick Harris, James Hudson III, Michael Dunn
The Browns return all five starters from last year, and have gotten their sixth man Hubbard back from a season-ending knee injury. Teller, Conklin and Bitonio are Pro Bowl-caliber, and Wills, the 10th overall pick last year, could be on his way there, despite some rough moments in camp. Tretter, meanwhile, never misses his games, and as the NFLPA president, is the leader of the group, alongside Bitonio. Hudson, a rookie, brings positional versatility, and at least here, Dunn edges out tackle Greg Senat and guard/center Blake Hance for the final spot.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Myles Garrett, Andrew Billings, Malik Jackson, Jadeveon Clowney, Jordan Elliott, Tommy Togiai, Takkarist McKinley, Malik McDowell, Porter Gustin
This is where things get really tricky. Garrett, Clowney, Jackson, Billings and McKinley, who recently resumed practicing after being away from the team on an excused absence most of training camp, are roster locks. Elliott and Togiai are probably locks, as well.
That leaves several players battling for one or two spots. Curtis Weaver, Joe Jackson, Sheldon Day and Marvin Wilson are all in the mix. But Gustin and Malik McDowell, a reclamation project who has the versatility to play inside and outside and has surged late in camp, get the final spots.
LINEBACKER (6): Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Sione Takitaki, Elijah Lee, Mack Wilson, Jacob Phillips
The Browns have yet to put Phillips on injured reserve, suggesting he will make the initial 53, despite suffering a biceps injury that will require surgery. Placing Phillips on IR now would effectively end his season. Keeping him on the initial 53, then placing him on IR, leaves open the possibility that he could rejoin the team at some point later in the season.
Considering Malcolm Smith is a vested vet, the Browns could release and re-sign him, which would create some much-needed roster flexibility.
CORNERBACK (6): Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Troy Hill, Greedy Williams, A.J. Green, M.J. Stewart
By drafting Newsome, signing Hill and getting Williams back from the season-ending shoulder injury from last training camp, the Browns are in far better shape at corner than they were last year. Green has had a really nice training camp in his second year in the pros, while Stewart possesses the versatility to play multiple positions in the secondary, including nickel. There seems to be little drama here.
SAFETY (5): John Johnson III, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison Jr., Richard LeCounte III, Sheldrick Redwine
The Browns kept only four safeties to begin last year. But with Delpit recently aggravating an injured hamstring, Harrison battling his own hamstring issue, Redwine missing most of camp with a sprained ankle, and LeCounte being a rookie, Cleveland might be inclined to go with five safeties.
That creates an opportunity for Redwine, who needed to show something in recent days to warrant a roster spot. He brings the type of athleticism coveted in coordinator Joe Woods' schemes. Because of all the injuries, Jovante Moffatt has gotten a ton of snaps this month and done well. If the Browns can get him to their practice squad, it would boost the overall depth.
SPECIALISTS (3): Chase McLaughlin, Jamie Gillan, Charley Hughlett
Cody Parkey suffering a quad injury in pregame of Cleveland's second preseason game made the kicking game an even bigger question mark. The Browns put Parkey on IR, which made McLaughlin their starting placekicker for now. McLaughlin has played on six teams since the 2019 season, and is hardly proven, despite having a nice camp, which included a 49-yard make in Cleveland's preseason game against the Giants. It will be interesting to see if the Browns stick with McLaughlin or go in a different direction.
Remember, last year they cut Austin Seibert after one game, clearing the way for Parkey to take over. Elsewhere, Gillan has had no competition at punter in camp, and Hughlett is the team's long-time deep snapper.