I’m now in my third year of obsessively updating a Browns roster spreadsheet, usually faster than the team itself. Here are a few stray tidbits from the off-season flux.
— The overall headcount is about right for this time of year: 70 players signed or tendered. They have ten draft picks, leaving plenty of room to sign UDFAs and stay under the limit of 90.
— Kickers (3) currently outnumber tight ends (2). Expect at least three new TEs/H-back/FB types to join the fray.
— Two-thirds of the current roster was acquired since Ray Farmer took over as GM last year.
— At most, 22 players will take the field this fall for their third season or more as a Brown.
— Only 12 Browns were acquired before Josh Gordon. Only 15 Browns are younger than him.
— All four starting DBs have been selected for the Pro Bowl.
— That said, the depth at safety must be considered a need. Only Jordan Poyer and Johnson Bademosi — zero career starts between them — back up Donte Whitner and Tashaun Gipson as it stands today.
— Looking at potential RFAs next year, the Browns extended John Hughes and are apparently trying to re-sign Gipson too. Others possibly in their last year here include Mitchell Schwartz, Billy Winn, Phil Taylor, Gary Barnidge and Travis Benjamin. Actually, barring a rash of injuries at WR, I don’t see Benjamin making the team this year.
— They have the same number of QBs under contract as RBs — four.
— The other position glaringly in need of a surge of incoming talent is OLB. Only Paul Kruger, Barkevious Mingo and Scott Solomon currently qualify. They’ll probably keep four or five on the final 53, which means bringing six to eight to camp.
— Possibly the worst decision of the whole off-season (aside from Gordon’s refreshments) is giving Dwayne Bowe the number 80. I get that 82 was taken and he wore 80 at LSU, but Oh Lord….
— How the current roster was acquired: street free agents 23, draft 17, undrafted rookie FAs 10, waiver claims, 9, unrestricted FAs 7, practice squad poach 2, restricted FA 1, trade 1.
