Projecting Cleveland Browns' Depth Chart After Peak of Free Agency

The majority of free-agent maneuvering has come and gone. Rosters and depth charts are, for now, mostly settled. The Cleveland Browns could still make more veteran additions to the team, but presently the focus is more on the upcoming NFL draft.

Now that the Browns have made the bulk of their moves, let's take a look at where the 2015 depth chart stands at this point in the offseason.

Quarterback

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1. Josh McCown
2. Johnny Manziel
3. Connor Shaw
4. Thaddeus Lewis

Though the Browns selected Johnny Manziel in Round 1 of the 2014 draft, his status as far as being the starter in 2015 is still unclear. With Manziel still in treatment and his timetable to return to the team unknown, for now veteran Josh McCown should be penciled in as the Browns' No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart.

Manziel, however, is confidently at the No. 2 position. He's followed by Connor Shaw, who started for the Browns in Week 17 of the 2014 season. At the No. 4 spot is recently signed free agent Thaddeus Lewis. He will provide a valuable camp arm for the Browns, especially if they commence minicamps without Manziel. 

Lewis is a dual-threat quarterback like Manziel, so his presence on the roster will allow the Browns to install the aspects of their offense they would otherwise need Manziel for, should he rejoin the team at a later date. Lewis could also challenge Shaw for a roster spot eventually, if his skill set proves more desirable.

Running Back

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1. Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West
2. Glenn Winston
3. Shaun Draughn

It's not likely the Browns will be turning away from their leading running back tandem from 2014, made up of Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West. Crowell rushed 148 times for 607 yards and eight touchdowns last year, while West had 171 carries for 673 yards and four scores. Though Crowell will likely surpass West for touches in 2015, the pair of second-year backs will carry the load for the Browns yet again.

A dark horse in this race is Glenn Winston, whom the Browns added on waivers last August. At the time, Browns general manager Ray Farmer said that Winston was, "as talented or moreso than the guys currently getting reps in front of him," according to Steve Doerschuk of CantonRepcom. Winston didn't get a single carry in 2014, but he was nearly activated in place of West near the end of the season.

Draughn, re-signed by the Browns this offseason, will primarily see time as a special teams contributor. He returned five kickoffs last season for 115 yards and should reprise that role in 2015. Though he may see a handful of carries over the season, his value mostly lies with the field-position battle.

Wide Receiver

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1. Andrew Hawkins, Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, Taylor Gabriel
2. Travis Benjamin, Marlon Moore
3. Phil Bates, Kevin Cone, Rodney Smith

The free-agency additions of Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline, modest two-year contracts and all, clearly indicate that the two veterans will be major components of the Browns' passing game this year. However, that doesn't mean Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel—Cleveland's two leading receivers for 2014—will be hung out to dry.

The Browns will have to get a bit more creative, however. They cannot just force one player off the field for another just because of his veteran status. All four need to see significant time, even if that may mean Hawkins goes back to the slot receiver duties he manned in his time with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Travis Benjamin and Marlon Moore, in the second tier, both have greater chances of sticking in Cleveland as special teams fixtures rather than wide receivers. Benjamin caught only 18 of the 46 passes thrown to him in 2014 and might be the odd man out now that Bowe and Hartline are in the fold. Cleveland re-signed Moore in the offseason to return kicks—he returned 13 for 222 yards last year—and work on the punt coverage team.

Phil Bates, Kevin Cone and Rodney Smith, on the other hand, are on the roster to fill it out for minicamps and OTAs. Unless one stands out over the course of the spring and summer, it's not likely any of the three will make it to the Browns' 53-man roster come September.

Tight End

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1. Gary Barnidge, Jim Dray

With only two tight ends on the roster at present, the Browns' depth chart at that position is simple to parse—Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray are both first-stringers until something changes.

Dray caught 17 passes on 28 targets in 2014, for 242 yards and a touchdown. Barnidge caught 13 passes on 25 targets for 156 yards and missed time with a shoulder injury. Their roles in 2015 will depend on what the Browns do in the upcoming draft.

Even if the Browns do take a top tight end prospect next month—such as Maxx Williams—Dray and Barnidge will still be on the field regularly as blockers as well as receivers. How much, especially as receivers, will hinge on the rookie or rookies the Browns bring aboard. But for now, the depth chart at tight end is as clear as it is thin.

Offensive Line

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1. Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, Alex Mack, John Greco, Mitchell Schwartz
2. Michael Bowie, Ryan Seymour, Nick McDonald
3. Vinston Painter, Karim Barton, Andrew McDonald

With Alex Mack recovering from the broken leg he suffered halfway through the 2014 season, the Browns offensive line should be unchanged in 2015. Joe Thomas will hold down the left tackle spot, with Joel Bitonio at left guard, Mack at center, John Greco at right guard and Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle.

It is possible that Michael Bowie, whom the Seattle Seahawks waived last August and was snagged by the Browns only to spend 2014 on injured reserve, could push Schwartz to right guard and Greco to the bench. Otherwise, he will serve as the backup swing tackle. Ryan Seymour and Nick McDonald will also serve as versatile depth; both filled in for Mack at center last year but can play all over the line.

On the third string sit Vinston Painter, Karim Barton and Andrew McDonald. They will all be fighting for what ultimately may be just one roster spot. None of the three played a snap in Cleveland last year.

Defensive Line

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1. Armonty Bryant, Desmond Bryant, John Hughes, Phil Taylor, Billy Winn
2. Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, Jamie Meder, Randy Starks, Jacobbi McDaniel
3. Calvin Barnett, Christian Tupou

The Cleveland Browns' front seven is all about rotation, and that starts with the defensive line. Though Armonty Bryant, Desmond Bryant, John Hughes, Phil Taylor and Billy Winn can all be considered starters in 2015, not all will be starters on a weekly basis. Furthermore, just because one defensive lineman gets the start, that doesn't mean he will get the majority of snaps in any given game.

Desmond Bryant and Winn led the Browns' defensive linemen in snaps played last year, according to Pro Football Focus. However, that was partially owed to the myriad injuries the defensive tackle and end positions suffered. Hughes was placed on the injured reserve-recall list and did not come back until Week 17, while Taylor and Armonty Bryant were both placed on injured reserve with knee injuries.

With all five players healthy going into 2015, they should play the majority of the defensive line snaps. However, Kitchen—who will be backing up nose tackle Phil Taylor—played 305 snaps last year and should see a similar workload this season. Meder and McDaniel stepped in, playing 27 and 21 snaps, respectively, and should reprise their backup jobs. Starks, a free-agent signing, will see time in the rotation, likely seeing a similar snap total as Kitchen.

Calvin Barnett and Christian Tupou, on the other hand, round out the bottom of the depth chart and will have to impress in order to beat out more established players for a roster spot.

Linebacker

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1. Paul Kruger, Barkevious Mingo, Chris Kirksey, Craig Robertson, Karlos Dansby
2. Scott Solomon, Tank Carder, Keith Pough, Darius Eubanks

The Browns had one key subtraction to their linebacking corps in free agency, with Jabaal Sheard leaving to join the New England Patriots. That will mean more opportunity this year for Barkevious Mingo, who played 681 snaps at both right and left outside linebacker, in relief of Paul Kruger and Sheard, according to Pro Football Focus.

Kruger will remain a starter. He led their linebackers in snaps played in 2014, with 919, and led the team in sacks with 11. On the inside, Craig Robertson, Karlos Dansby and Chris Kirksey will continue to rotate as they did last season, working primarily against the run and in coverage. Unlike other 3-4 hybrid defenses, the Browns do not focus on bringing a pass rush from their interior linebackers.

Scott Solomon could remain in Cleveland as depth—he totaled seven tackles and one sack and appeared in eight games for the Browns last year. Tank Carder has significant special teams value on punt coverage, which could save his roster spot. That doesn't leave a lot of room, however, for Keith Pough and Darius Eubanks.

Cornerback

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1. Joe Haden, Tramon Williams, K'Waun Williams, Pierre Desir
2. Justin Gilbert, Jordan Poyer
3. Kendall James, Robert Nelson, Micah Pellerin, Varmah Sonie

The Browns' two boundary cornerback jobs seem to be set heading into the 2015 season, with perennial standout Joe Haden being joined by free-agent veteran Tramon Williams, who totaled three interceptions, 65 tackles and 14 passes defensed for the Green Bay Packers in 2014.

At slot cornerback, however, things become murkier. Three second-year corners are vying for the job—first-round 2014 draft pick Justin Gilbert, fourth-rounder Pierre Desir and the undrafted K'Waun Williams, who played 352 snaps last season and had eight passes defensed, per PFF.

The end of Gilbert's first year was disappointing, concluding with a one-game suspension. Head coach Mike Pettine said in February that Gilbert had been dealing with "personal" issues that affected his performance and readiness in 2014. Should those issues be resolved, he could easily be the Browns' nickel corner this year or even push Tramon Williams.

Ultimately, Haden, the two Williamses, Desir and Gilbert, should see some degree of playing time in 2015, with Haden leading the way. Jordan Poyer, who played 117 snaps last year as both a cornerback and safety, should remain on the roster—not just because of his positional versatility but also his special teams value.

That leaves Kendall James, Robert Nelson, Micah Pellerin and Varmah Sonie on the outside of the depth chart looking in.

Safety

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1. Donte Whitner, Tashaun Gipson
2. Jordan Poyer, Johnson Bademosi

No Browns defender played more snaps than strong safety Donte Whitner in 2014—all 1,177, to be exact, per PFF. As a result, he was Cleveland's leading tackler, with 106 combined. He also had five passes defensed and an interception. He won't be losing playing time to anyone this year.

So long as the Browns can retain restricted free agent Tashaun Gipson—who was given a second-round tender in lieu of continuing contract negotiations—he will reprise his role as the starting free safety. Gipson totaled 52 combined tackles and six interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, before suffering a knee injury that cost him the final five games of the season.

Jim Leonhard replaced Gipson as the starting free safety in those final five weeks, but he's still a free agent. That leaves hybrid slot receiver-safety Jordan Poyer and safety-special teamer Johnson Bademosi behind Gipson and Whitner. Both should stick around, even if the Browns add more safeties to the roster, because of how important they are on punt and kick coverage.

Kicker

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1. Garrett Hartley
2. Carey Spear, Travis Coons

After nearly a full season of struggling to make field goals, the Browns decided to part ways with kicker Billy Cundiff in December and to bring on Garrett Hartley. Hartley ultimately went 3-of-3 in his field-goal attempts, with a long of 43. He was also 2-of-2 at extra points.

Hartley isn't the only kicker on the roster; however, he is the only one with NFL experience. Neither Carey Spear nor Travis Coons has kicked a single field goal or extra point professionally, which means Hartley is atop the depth chart heading into the spring.

That's not to say that either Spear or Coons could ultimately outperform Hartley during training camp this summer and win the job. But for now, experience trumps the unknown, so Hartley remains the Browns' starting kicker.

Punter

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1. Spencer Lanning

The Browns opted to re-sign punter Spencer Lanning to a one-year, $585,000 contract just prior to the start of free agency. Given that he's the only punter on the roster right now, Lanning remains the starter. 

Lanning totaled 93 punts in 2014 for 4,119 yards, or 44.3 yards per punt. He kicked nine touchbacks. Twenty-six of his punts were fair caught, and 42 were returned for an average of seven yards per return.

Granted, the Browns could add another punter this offseason if they'd like competition for Lanning. But for now, it's his job alone.