BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns open the 2026 NFL regular season at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET. But first, they play one more preseason game Thursday against the New England Patriots and then must cut their roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Who will make the team? Which positions have tough decisions on deck? And where might the lineup be deepest and thinnest this season?
Aside from the quarterback competition around which training camp has centered, Cleveland must decide whether it wants to keep all four passers on its 53-man roster or offload one. Tough decisions also await with depth concerns at tight end, cornerback and defensive line.
Here is our projection for the 53-man roster for the Browns.
Quarterbacks (4)
Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green
Keeping four quarterbacks on an active roster is unheard of in the NFL. However, Cleveland is effectively using Green's rookie season as a redshirt year. And between Watson's struggles, injury history and the reception from the home crowd in the second preseason game -- he was met with loud boos -- the Browns might opt to keep Gabriel on the 53-man roster as another backup option.
Running backs (4)
Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Raheim Sanders, Michael Burton (fullback)
The Browns have a competition for a third running back behind Judkins and Sampson. Raheim Sanders and Ahmani Marshall are the top contenders, but the edge goes to Raheim Sanders, who has run the ball well and can pass protect. Burton has been injured for a large portion of camp but was Cleveland's top fullback prior to being sidelined.
Tight ends (3)
Harold Fannin Jr., Blake Whiteheart, Carsen Ryan
The status of Joe Royer, a fifth-round pick, is in question as he has missed all of camp for personal reasons. He could be placed on the reserve/non football injury list to preserve a roster spot elsewhere. The position has also been hit by injuries, and there remains no clear running mate at tight end to Fannin, who was Cleveland's top pass catcher as a rookie in 2025.
Wide receivers (5)
Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond, Tylan Wallace
Jeudy, Concepcion, Boston and Bond have established themselves as the Browns' top wide receivers. Wallace has been a trusted pass catcher who can play special teams, while Corley is a top kick returner. Malachi Corley, Gage Larvadain, or Luke Floriea, a second-year player and native of a Cleveland suburb, could sneak into a sixth receiver spot for special teams purposes.
Offensive linemen (10)
Spencer Fano, Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, Teven Jenkins, Tytus Howard, Dawand Jones, Parker Brailsford, Austin Barber, KT Leveston, Luke Wypler
Brailsford, a fifth-round pick, was poised to be the Browns' backup center, but he hasn't practiced in weeks or played in the preseason because of an injury. That could open the door for Wypler, a 2023 sixth-round pick who had once appeared to be on the wrong side of the roster bubble.
Defensive linemen (8)
Jared Verse, Maliek Collins, Mason Graham, Isaiah McGuire, Derek Barnett, Mike Hall Jr., Adin Huntington, Kalia Davis
The Browns suffered a big loss with defensive end Alex Wright's season-ending Achilles injury. Even before losing Wright, Cleveland scoured the edge rusher market in recent weeks; the team sought reunions with Jadeveon Clowney and Za'Darius Smith before they signed elsewhere. Barnett will provide solid depth, but the front office will need to orchestrate another signing or trade before Week 1.
Linebackers (6)
Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Winston Reid, Nathaniel Watson, Justin Jefferson
Schwesinger has missed multiple weeks of practice with an undisclosed injury, but the Browns are hopeful the NFL's reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year will return soon. Mascarenas-Arnold, who made the team last year as an undrafted rookie, has lined up alongside Schwesinger and Williams in Cleveland's base defense and seems to have a firm grasp on a starting role.
Cornerbacks (6)
Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Myles Harden, D'Angelo Ross, Tre Avery, Michael Coats Jr.
Another position with depth concerns, the Browns could look to add a veteran to stabilize the position behind Ward and Campbell. Monken recently highlighted Coats, an undrafted rookie, as a player who has stood out amid injuries.
Safeties (4)
Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Christopher Edmonds
Edmonds, Donovan McMillon and Daniel Thomas are all competing for a roster spot as a backup safety. Edmonds has been higher on the depth chart and has also held multiple roles on special teams.
Special teams (3)
Andre Szmyt (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Rex Sunahara (LS)
The Browns have had two young punters -- Nik Constantinou and Wes Pahl -- compete with Bojorquez, but special teams coordinator Byron Storer has said it's Bojorquez's job to lose. He wins out, and Cleveland returns its kicking battery for a second consecutive season.
