It is always a treat when the Cleveland Browns unveil their first depth chart of training camp. Teams have to release depth charts when a preseason game approaches, but how Rob Chudzinski lists players doesn't necessarily reflect whether a player will make the team or not. Nonetheless, we get to scrutinize the depth chart as if it is an accurate representation of the Browns' roster right now.
OFFENSE
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QB: Brandon Weeden, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer
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RB: Trent Richardson, Montario Hardesty, Dion Lewis, Brandon Jackson, Miguel Maysonet
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FB: Chris Ogbonnaya, Owen Marecic, Brad Smelley, Brock Bolen
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WR1: Greg Little, Davone Bess, Jordan Norwood, Josh Cooper, Mike Edwards, Dominique Croom
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WR2: Josh Gordon, Travis Benjamin, David Nelson, Cordell Roberson, Naaman Roosevelt, Tori Gurley
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TE: Jordan Cameron, Gary Barnidge, Kellen Davis, Dan Gronkowski, Travis Tannahill
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LT: Joe Thomas, Rashad Butler, Martin Wallace, Chris Faulk
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LG: John Greco/Jason Pinkston, Garrett Gilkey
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C: Alex Mack, Jarrod Shaw, Braxston Cave
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RG: Shawn Lauvao/Jason Pinkston, Aaron Adams, Caylin Hauptmann
- RT: Mitchell Schwartz, Oniel Cousins, Ryan Miller, Dominic Alford
DEFENSE
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LDE: Ahtyba Rubin, John Hughes/Brian Sanford, Dave Kruger
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NT: Phil Taylor, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, Nicolas Jean-Baptiste
- RDE: Desmond Bryant, Billy Winn, Hall Davis, Armonty Bryant
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LOLB: Paul Kruger, Quentin Groves, Justin Staples
- ILB: D’Qwell Jackson, L.J. Fort, Tommy Smith
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ILB: Craig Robertson, Tank Carder/James-Michael Johnson, Justin Cole
- ROLB: Jabaal Sheard, Barkevious Mingo, Kendrick Adams
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LCB: Joe Haden, Leon McFadden, Trevin Wade, Abdul Kanneh
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FS: Tashaun Gipson, Jamoris Slaughter, Kent Richardson
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SS: T.J. Ward, Johnson Bademosi, Josh Aubrey, Kenronte Walker
- RCB: Buster Skrine/Chris Owens, Akeem Auguste, Vernon Kearney
SPECIAL TEAMS
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K: Shayne Graham/Brandon Bogotay
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P: T.J. Conley/Spencer Lanning
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H: T.J. Conley/Spencer Lanning
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LS: Christian Yount, Billy Winn
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KR: Johnson Bademosi /Dion Lewis, Travis Benjamin/Buster Skrine, Naaman Roosevelt, Mike Edwards
- PR: Travis Benjamin, Davone Bess, Jordan Norwood, Josh Cooper, Mike Edwards, Naaman Roosevelt
NOTES
There are no surprises at quarterback. The surprise at running back and fullback is the fact that Chris Ogbonnaya is not only listed at fullback, but as the No. 1 fullback. Veteran Brandon Jackson is kind of buried on the depth chart, if you consider the fact that Ogbonnaya also doubles as a running back.
At wide receiver, Jordan Norwood's spot on the depth chart makes him the early favorite to make the final roster while Josh Gordon is suspended. Undrafted free agent Cordell Roberson, who I noted as having a couple of nice catches at one of the practices I went to, is listed higher than a few other guys. The well-traveled Tori Gurley is listed at the bottom. For all we know, the depth chart could be random toward the bottom.
At tight end, I'm pleased to see Gary Barnidge listed as the second tight end, ahead of blocking tight end Kellen Davis. On the offensive line, we see the Browns "cheat" for the first time by listing Jason Pinkston as being in a tie with John Greco and Shawn Lauvao for a starting offensive guard position. Undrafted free agent center Braxston Cave is third, not second, on the depth chart.
During the offseason, Desmond Bryant was listed as the left defensive end with Ahtyba Rubin as the right defensive end. This depth chart has them flipped. It's interesting to see Brian Sanford marked as a tie with John Hughes for second on the depth chart at left defensive end. We heard Chudzinski talk up Sanford in one of his press conferences. Rookie draft pick Armonty Bryant, who hasn't seen much action in camp, is buried on the depth chart.
Outside and inside linebacker feature virtually no surprises. At cornerback, the Browns "cheat" again by listing Chris Owens and Buster Skrine in a tie for the starting cornerback role aside Joe Haden. Both Owens and Skrine have had good camps, so I do believe that there isn't a clear winner there yet. Injuries have messed up the safety depth chart in camp; Josh Aubrey has received reps with the first-team defense for several practices now, but is fifth on the depth chart.
On special teams, things are still dead even in the kicker and punter competitions. At kick returner, the depth chart would indicate that Johnson Bademosi and Dion Lewis are the frontrunners for that role. Based on Bademosi's lack of hands alone, I'd give Lewis the edge there. Billy Winn is the backup long snapper, which is just a fun fact to know.
What do you think of the Browns' opening depth chart?