Predicting Cleveland Browns' 1st Wave of Roster Cuts

The Cleveland Browns aren't required to make any roster cuts before September 1, but it's inevitable certain positions on the roster will see some changes as training camp wears on. Whether as a result of injuries or simply poor on-field performances, players will come and go in the upcoming month.

Here are five players who could be among the first to be released by the Browns before training camp and the preseason have wrapped.

RB Glenn Winston

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The Browns' coaching staff has been enthusiastic about running back Glenn Winston, even though he didn't record a single carry in 2014. But this year, he may prove to be a summertime casualty, owing to the cliched saying that "the best ability is often availability."

Winston has been sidelined with a knee injury during the early part of training camp. Head coach Mike Pettine told reporters on Sunday, relayed by Ohio.com's Nate Ulrich, that he thinks Winston "is close to getting back," which would certainly help his chances of sticking on the roster, especially with fellow backs Duke Johnson, Terrance West and Luke Lundy all dealing with injuries of their own.

But even then Winston may not get enough reps to ultimately stick on the roster. Until and unless he can take the practice field, get carries and look impressive, Winston's odds of remaining with the Browns continue to increase.

OL Darrian Miller

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When the Browns opened training camp, Round 1 pick Cam Erving worked exclusively with the second-team offensive line, even though he was considered a favorite to be the team's starting right guard once the season kicks off in September. Head coach Mike Pettine explained the move as such, reported by the team's official site: "We feel the starting five from a year ago is a solid group. If Cam wants to break into that lineup, that's not going to be handed to him. He is going to have to earn it."

Eventually, though, Erving will be with the first team along with rotational linemen Andrew McDonald and Ryan Seymour. The Browns are not hard up for offensive-line talent, which means the tackles, guards and centers on the roster's margins will have to work that much harder to turn heads.

That's why lineman Darrian Miller is a candidate to be cut this summer. Miller has made little impact aside from being pancaked by defensive lineman John Hughes in Saturday's padded practice. That's not a way to win a job on Cleveland's offensive line, which is one of the NFL's best.

TE Kevin Haplea

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Tight ends Jim Dray, Rob Housler and Gary Barnidge are locks to make the Browns' 53-man roster this year, and rookie fullback-cum-H-back Malcolm Johnson also has some upside as a receiver. Randall Telfer, meanwhile, could spend at least part of the year on injured reserve as he continues to rehab his foot injury.

That leaves two tight ends for one roster spot at most: Kevin Haplea and E.J. Bibbs. Based on Bibbs' solid spring, combined with a good start to training camp, it looks as though Haplea is the odd man out.

Reported by the team's official site, head coach Mike Pettine said of Bibbs in July that, "He's kind of come out of nowhere. We feel that we have some depth in the room and some future depth in that room that we're very pleased with."

Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski believes Bibbs is the tight end who will benefit most from Telfer's absence, and so far he's right.

Tight ends coach Brian Angelichio was pleased with what he saw from Bibbs on the field in practice, reported by Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com, which is a good first step toward edging out Haplea on the roster. Meanwhile, there's been nothing but radio silence about Haplea so far, which is not good news for a player in a crowded positional group.

WR Kevin Cone

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The wide receiver position is a crowded one for the Browns at present, and those at the bottom of the pecking order will need to stand out in order to make the team's final roster. One of these marginal receivers is Kevin Cone, who simply isn't doing enough to earn job security.

Ultimately, the depth at wide receiver under presumed safe starters such as Dwayne Bowe and Andrew Hawkins will sort itself out once preseason games get underway. But Cone is going to need to put in strong performances once he takes the field in 10 days in order to not be one of the Browns' earlier roster cuts.

Outside of Cone, other receivers whose roster spots hang in the balance include Josh Lenz, Marlon Moore and Shane Wynn.

K Travis Coons

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Aside from Browns kicker Carey Spear having the nickname of Murderleg, which already gives him an advantage against his challenger, Travis Coons, he's also performed better in making training camp field goals. 

According to 92.3 The Fan's Daryl Ruiter, Spear made all of his kicks on Saturday: 33 yards on the left and the right, 38 yards from the left, 42 yards from the left and the right, 49 yards from the right, and 53- and 55-yarders from the left. 

Coons, meanwhile, missed his attempt from 49 yards from the right and 56 yards from the left. If this disparity between the two continues in the team's preseason games—during which the battle will really be fought—Coons will lose his chance at being the Browns' kicker this year.