CLEVELAND — Although the “dress rehearsal” has already taken place, there are plenty of auditions left for players trying to earn a spot in the National Football League, and the Cleveland Browns, like the other 31 teams, must trim the roster from 90 to 53 players in the next few days.
Following Thursday’s preseason finale against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, the Browns’ coaching staff and front office will meet and make decisions that shape the initial roster before the team opens up regular-season play at home against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 8.
How many defensive linemen will the Browns keep? What will the secondary look like? If the Browns are committed to running a 4-2-5 defensive alignment, how many linebackers are necessary? Those are the questions facing the Browns as roster reduction day approaches.
Here is a projection for what the Browns’ defensive depth chart will look like after cuts are made Saturday.
Defensive line (9): Myles Garrett, Larry Ogunjobi, Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon, Chris Smith, Trevon Coley, Devaroe Lawrence, Anthony Zettel, Chad Thomas
The Browns have four potential Pro Bowlers on the defensive line, and while Garrett, Ogunjobi, Richardson and Vernon will lead the way, as Lawrence eloquently pointed out earlier this week, “they’re good players, but they run out of oxygen, too.”
Well, when those starters run out of oxygen, expect to see a rotation of Chris Smith and Anthony Zettel as fill-in defensive ends, while Coley, Lawrence and Chad Thomas would back up Ogunjobi and Richardson at the tackle spots.
Lawrence had an impressive training camp, so much so that coach Freddie Kitchens pointed it out to the entire team when he was upset how a drill was going in practice, and that success has not been limited to the Berea training facility.
Lawrence registered two sacks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third preseason game and has a team-best three quarterback takedowns over the first three weeks of the preseason.
Linebacker (6): Christian Kirksey, Joe Schobert, Genard Avery, Adarius Taylor, Sione Takitaki, Mack Wilson
Kirksey and Schobert are the most tenured veterans on the defense, and while they do not always make the memorable, highlight-reel plays, the linebackers are good for at least 100 tackles if healthy and on the field for 16 games.
A fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Wilson proved over the first two weeks of training camp that he had a nose for the football, and the former University of Alabama standout added to an impressive start to his NFL career in the second quarter of the preseason opener.
After catching an underthrown pass from Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr., Wilson hustled down the sideline, got around a tackle attempt from the rookie signal-caller and muscled his way through two more Washington players to get across the goal line for the 40-yard touchdown.
Wilson added a second interception early in the fourth quarter.
Takitaki appears to be the heir-apparent at linebacker if the Browns do not extend the contracts of Kirksey or Schobert, but it will come down to his ability to play within the framework of a defense and keep his high motor in check.
Defensive backs (10): Denzel Ward, Terrance Mitchell, Damarious Randall, Morgan Burnett, T.J. Carrie, Greedy Williams, Eric Murray, Jermaine Whitehead, Sheldrick Redwine, Donnie Lewis Jr.
If the Browns do utilize a nickel alignment in their base defense, having plenty of defensive backs to cover is a must.
The Browns have a good mix of veterans and young, emerging players in the secondary, but expect two rookies, Redwine and Lewis Jr., to make the team not only for depth, but also, to help on special teams.
Specialists (3): Long-snapper Charley Hughlett, kicker Austin Seibert, punter Britton Colquitt
No surprises here, as Hughlett has been solid in his snaps and Colquitt is a Pro Bowl-caliber punter who is consistent in his approach.
Seibert was taken in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and despite a shaky showing in the offseason program, training camp and first two preseason games, he converted all four of his attempts against the Buccaneers, including a 54-yarder to open the scoring.