Way too early 53-man roster projection for the Cleveland Browns following the 2025 NFL Draft where they added two quarterbacks

The Cleveland Browns finally had a first-round pick again, and they spent it on Michigan DT Mason Graham on Thursday. Cleveland made a big splash by trading out of No. 2 to the Jacksonville Jaguars and picking up an additional first-round pick for next season.

Cleveland addressed multiple needs in this draft. Though they still have some moves they can make, the roster as a whole is improved. Though it is only April, the Browns' 53-man roster is starting to shape up a bit for next season. It is still very early, so this is just a projection. 

Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2025 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2025 undrafted free agents.

Quarterback (3)

IN: Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel

Injured reserve: Deshaun Watson

OUT: Kenny Pickett (Traded)

The skinny: Cleveland is only going to keep three quarterbacks and I look for Pickett to be the player they try to move in a trade.

Running back (3)

IN: Jerome Ford, Quinshon Judkins*, Dylan Sampson*

OUT: Pierre Strong Jr.

The skinny: Cleveland may opt to bring back Nick Chubb but they don’t have to after drafting two quality running backs in the draft. This has the chance to be a rather social room.

Wide receiver (6)

IN: Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash, Michael Woods, David Bell, DeAndre Carter

OUT: Kaden Davis

The skinny: Cleveland badly needs to add a veteran. It may be Elijah Moore they want to bring back and that would make sense. This is not a good room at all. Jeudy is a Pro Bowl-level receiver but after him is unproven.

Tight end (3)

IN: David Njoku, Harold Fannin Jr.*, Blake Whiteheart

OUT: Tre’ McKitty, Brendan Bates

The skinny: The Browns should go back to using their tight ends more with Kevin Stefanski calling plays. Njoku is the top dog in the room but Fannin has a chance to carve out a nice role as a rookie.

Offensive line (10)

IN: Dawand Jones, Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Teven Jenkins, Zak Zinter, Cornelius Lucas, Luke Wypler, Javion Cohen

OUT: Brady Latham, Roy Mbaeteka, Julian Pearl, Lorenzo Thompson

The skinny: The Browns didn’t opt to draft any offensive line help and that was a surprise. Jones has to stay healthy on the left side and the same goes with Conklin on the right. This may be the last go around for Bitonio.

Defensive line (10)

IN: Myles Garrett, Maliek Collins, Mason Graham*, Isaiah McGuire, Mike Hall Jr., Shelby Harris, Alex Wright, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Jowon Briggs, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

OUT: Ralph Holley, Cameron Thomas

The skinny: Cleveland’s identity on defense will continue to be upfront. It looks like the Browns will go with a rotation opposite of Garrett. McGuire and Wright have both shown promise and Okoronkwo is a veteran at this point. Graham stepping in there in the interior alongside Collins should be a force.

Linebacker (6)

IN: Jerome Baker, Carson Schwesinger*, Jordan Hicks, Devin Bush, Winston Reid, Mohamoud Diabate

Injured reserve: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Out: Julian Okwarwa, Elerson Smith

The skinny: Cleveland has a pretty solid group but could be without JOK for some of the season or all. There has been little update there but the Browns taking Schwesinger could be a sign.

Cornerback (5)

IN: Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr., Greg Newsome, Myles Harden, Nik Needham

OUT: Anthony Kendall, Tony Brown, Cameron Mitchell

The skinny: Cleveland has one new addition to this room adding Needham as a free agent. The Browns need Emerson to bounce back in 2024, while Emerson is in a career year in 2025.

Safety (4)

IN: Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Chris Dean, Christopher Edmonds

OUT:

The skinny: Cleveland badly needs to add a veteran here. One of the worst position groups on the team in terms of talent. Delpit is a good player and Hickman has shown value as depth but there is a fall off. 

Specialists (3)

IN: Rex Sunahara, Dustin Hopkins, Corey Bojorquez

OUT: Andre Szmyt

The skinny: After a rough 2024 season, the Browns need Hopkins to bounce back as the kicker. Bojorquez had a nice season last year and will look to continue that. Charley Hughlett no longer with the team is a bit different.