The Cleveland Browns play three preseason games before our 18-week regular season kicks off on September 7th. We face the Panthers, the Eagles and the Rams before our Week 1 matchup with the Bengals and there are plenty of important players and position battles to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. Most (if not all) of our starters are likely already locked in by now, but these preseason games give us a chance to watch those position battles unfold and give the fringe players a chance to try out on a national stage in the most important games of their lives.
Quarterbacks:
The most obvious and most watched battle this summer has been (and will continue to be) at the quarterback position. With Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders and now Tyler Huntley all competing for reps in this offense, these preseason games are going to be each one’s best opportunity to earn a starting spot.
In our first preseason game against the Panthers, Kevin Stefanski has already confirmed that the only quarterbacks available will be Sanders and Huntley, while Pickett and Gabriel remain sidelined with hamstring injuries and Flacco is resting alongside many other veterans and starters. Personally, I don’t think Tyler Huntley’s performance matters at all – he has no chance to become our starter. He’s in Cleveland on the NFL equivalent of a 10-day contract and will be gone as soon as either Kenny Pickett or Dillon Gabriel are healthy enough to see live game action. Shedeur, on the other hand, has a real chance to prove himself and move his way up the depth chart – but I have to remind Browns fans not to overreact, no matter how he performs. If he plays poorly, he’ll survive – it’s his first time seeing NFL action and being tackled by NFL players. If he excels, great – but don’t think that automatically means he’ll excel in the league. After Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s performance two summers ago, I was convinced he would save the franchise – so I refuse to fall for preseason propaganda again. However, if Sanders is able to compete at a high level and remain largely mistake-free, there’s a good chance he can surpass Gabriel or Pickett on the depth chart – especially if they remain injured for an extended time.
With Flacco’s experience, it’s unlikely he sees many reps at all in the preseason matchups. Gabriel and Pickett, though, will be thrown back in the mix as early as next week against the Eagles (assuming they can get healthy in time) – so the battle is still fully open. I’d once again make the reminder to not overreact to anything that a QB does in August, but I will acknowledge the fact that the performances put on display this month will directly impact the depth chart – so watch closely. Our Week 1 starter is probably Joe Flacco – but if I had to guess, the winner of this QB battle will be starting for us coming out of the Week 9 bye.
Wide Receivers:
Diontae Johnson
According to Coach Stefanski, both Cedric Tillman and Jerry Jeudy will be held out of the first preseason game – but the remainder of the receivers in the room will be suiting up. That gives us the opportunity to watch Diontae Johnson, Jamari Thrash, DeAndre Carter, Kaden Davis, Gage Larvadian and Luke Floreia taking live game reps. Of course, there will be others playing, but the six named are the ones I believe have the highest chance of making the 53-man roster – and these preseason games will be their best chance to do so.
The first two (Johnson and Thrash) are virtual locks to make the team, and Carter is almost certainly returning kicks for us. We’ll probably go into the season with only six receivers (seven at the most). Accounting for Tillman and Jeudy, that leaves a maximum of only two spots remaining for Davis, Larvadian, and Floreia to battle for. Most projections have the team moving forward with only Kaden Davis, but Luke Floreia and Gage Larvadian have both had extremely impressive offseasons – so those last one or two wide receiver slots are still anyone’s to claim.
Cornerbacks:
Myles Harden
With Martin Emerson Jr. out, who steps up? Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, and Cameron Mitchell will all be on the 53-man roster, but we need more than three cornerbacks. There are plenty of names to watch out for who have a shot at making the team, whether as depth pieces or special teams players: Myles Harden, Chigozie Anusiem, LaMareon James, Dom Jones, and Tony Brown are the five who should be on your radar. Harden, our 2024 seventh-round pick, likely has the best chance – playing in four games for us last year after returning from injured reserve. Tony Brown also played in six games for us last year and is a beloved locker room presence who has always been solid enough on special teams to earn roster spots. Anusiem was a highly sought-after undrafted free agent last year. While the Commanders never elevated him to their active roster, there’s a good chance he can break into our weakened room. Jones and James are both UDFA rookies this season, and the former hasn’t really done much to stand out. The latter, however, has had a few big plays in training camp (including a two-interception day just last week), so depending on his play in the preseason – both in coverage and on special teams – LaMareon James also has a real shot to make the team.
Linebackers:
Mohamoud Diabate
Carson Schwesinger will be starting on September 7th, and all signs point to him being a roaring success of a draft pick for Andrew Berry. But JOK is still out, Devin Bush is spending time with Quinshon Judkins in jail and Jordan Hicks just retired. Our LB room is already weak, and it continues to fall apart at the seams – so with any luck, this preseason will show us that our depth pieces have managed to step up in a big way. Mohamoud Diabate and Jerome Baker will make the team, with Diabate likely starting – and depending on Devin Bush’s legal troubles, that leaves us with one or two open spots for Winston Reid and Nathaniel Watson to battle for. Reid got more opportunities to see the field than Watson did last year, and likely has a better chance to make the team this season – but as is the case with all the position battles, it’s anyone’s spot to take until rosters are finalized.
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Again, it’s only preseason. Don’t get too excited if a player looks amazing and don’t get too distressed if a player is struggling. The outcome of this game does not matter in the slightest; what does matter is how each player handles their opportunity. Those who make the most of their reps will get that much closer to making the team come September, and the names mentioned here are the ones with the best chance to do just that. Keep an eye out for them in the next few weeks – some of them are bound to stand out.
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