Predicting Cleveland Browns' Training Camp Standouts

The Cleveland Browns open their full training camp later this week, which means we will be inundated in practice reports as we try to parse what the roster and depth chart will look like for the 2015 season. Some players will sink and others will shine, especially once the pads come on and a degree of live contact is permitted.

Based on what we know from the Browns' OTA and minicamp practices, we can make a few educated guesses about who looks poised to have a strong training camp. Here are the five Browns most likely to be camp standouts this summer.

RB Duke Johnson

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One of the most exciting new faces on the Browns roster this year is rookie running back Duke Johnson. The rookie out of Miami will not only add to the team's rushing offense, but will also be used as a receiver, much as he was in college.

ESPN's Adam Caplan wrote last month that Johnson "has been the most impressive" of Cleveland's running backs, noting that his "versatility and explosiveness shows." Though, as the Akron Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich writes, Johnson will not be the Browns' starter "right away," with that job likely going to Isaiah Crowell. The Browns "[plan] to move [Johnson] into different spots, including receiver, in hopes of creating mismatches."

Doing so during training camp is likely to lead to a number of big runs and lots of yards after the catch for Johnson. Whether or not this translates to the regular-season playing field is yet to be seen, but he should draw a lot of eyes to him in practices this summer.

LB Chris Kirksey

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Browns inside linebacker Chris Kirksey had a strong rookie season in 2014. In 16 games, with eight starts, Kirksey had a combined 81 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble while splitting time with Karlos Dansby and Craig Robertson. And this year, he looks poised to have an even better year.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Tom Reed pegs Kirksey as his breakout player for 2015, saying, "He possesses decent size, but it's his quickness and ability to play sideline to sideline which is so important to the position nowadays." And he's not the only one who sees big things out of Kirksey this year.

Inside linebackers coach Chuck Driesbach spoke to the Chronicle-Telegram's Scott Petrak earlier this summer and said of Kirksey, "We had a big session where I sat down with the scouting department and they were getting my insights into what are we looking for in an inside linebacker. I said, 'Go clone Kirksey.'" He added that, "He doesn't look like an outside linebacker playing inside linebacker anymore. He looks like he has good knowledge and good feel instincts in there."

That leap forward should be evident on the field during training camp this year. It won't be hard to spot Kirksey wreaking havoc all over the field.

WR Dwayne Bowe

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Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe came to the Browns after eight years with the Kansas City Chiefs. And though he didn't record a touchdown reception in 2014, that had less to do with Bowe reaching age 30 than it did with the Chiefs passing offense. He's hoping for a resurgence in his career now that he's with the Browns.

Bowe said to the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot in early July that, "I've been to the top and I've been to the bottom, and now it's time to get back to the top," adding that, "When Josh [Gordon] was here he was the touchdown man and I'm here to fill his shoes. It's my job to do that in this offense and I believe I can do that."

Browns sources close to Lane Adkins of Scout.com's Orange and Brown report told him in July that, "We are seeing things in OTA sessions with [Bowe] that hasn’t been on his tape in years. We believed he could get down-field and make an impact based on his skill-set, what we are seeing is Bowe is relishing the opportunity to lead and play."

If Bowe is truly a revitalized receiver, then he should be making a lot of plays during training camp that will hopefully translate to a banner year for the veteran.

S Jordan Poyer

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Safety Jordan Poyer stepped in for starter Tashaun Gipson when Gipson sat out the Browns OTA practices earlier this offseason and then remained with the first-team defense when Gipson showed up to minicamp with a hamstring strain. And because he's played so well, head coach Mike Pettine is considering keeping Poyer with the first team once training camp begins later this week.

Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil praised Poyer's performance this summer, saying to the Browns' official website that, "I really think Poyer has opened my eyes to the type of player he is. He has really taken advantage of the reps that he's been given, and he's done a great job. His pre-snap communication has been outstanding. He's improved in man coverage."

Poyer said that in 2014, he was learning behind veteran Jim Leonhard: "It was his last season, and I kind of studied under his wing. The coaches wanted me to play one year in that system, and come in next year and have the role that Jimmy Leonhard played—to come in on second-and-long plays and third down situations."

But that's not all Poyer wants to do this year. He is also very interested in remaining a major part of the Browns special-teams unit, saying, "I want to return again, really bad. All four phases of special teams, I don’t mind playing, going out there running down field and trying to make plays."

With Poyer working at safety, returner and on the punt and kick coverage teams during training camp, he'll be all over the field and should prove to be one of the Browns' top performers during camp.

LB Scott Solomon

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Outside linebacker Scott Solomon came to the Browns late in the 2014 season, appearing in two games and totaling one sack and seven tackles. But this year, he looks set to play a much bigger role on their defense.

In OTAs and minicamp, Solomon was a standout. Defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil said that, "Scott is very quickly becoming one of my favorite players on the defense. He embodies everything we talk about when we say 'Play Like a Brown.' I think the offense calls him 'Bloodbath' because it’s like a heat-seeking missile coming off the edge."

O'Neil envisions Solomon playing early downs as a pass-rusher, splitting time with Barkevious Mingo. But regardless of what happens in the regular season, a player with the nickname of 'Bloodbath' is likely to turn heads throughout training camp.