The Cleveland Browns will hold their first full-squad session of training camp on Thursday, and that means it is time for me to unveil my first 53-man roster projection of the season. This pre-training camp edition is my current perception for how things will go, but it could change drastically over the next couple of weeks based on reports from training camp and performances in the preseason games.

Pos Final Roster Players Cut QB Brandon Weeden

Jason Campbell

Brian Hoyer

RB Trent Richardson

Montario Hardesty

Dion Lewis

Chris Ogbonnaya Brandon Jackson

Miguel Maysonet

FB Owen Marecic Brock Bolen

WR Greg Little

Josh Gordon**

Davone Bess

Travis Benjamin

David Nelson

Jordan Norwood Josh Cooper

Naaman Roosevelt

Tori Gurley

Cordell Roberson*

Dominique Croom

Mike Edwards

TE Jordan Cameron

Kellen Davis

Gary Barnidge

Brad Smelley*

Dan Gronkowski

Travis Tannahill

OL Joe Thomas

John Greco

Alex Mack

Jason Pinkston

Mitchell Schwartz

Shawn Lauvao

Rashad Butler

Garrett Gilkey Oniel Cousins

Ryan Miller

Jarrod Shaw

Chris Faulk

Braxston Cave*

Aaron Adams

Caylin Hauptmann

Martin Wallace

DL Desmond Bryant

Phil Taylor

Ahtyba Rubin

Billy Winn

John Hughes

Ishmaa'ily Kitchen

Armonty Bryant Brian Sanford

Nicolas Jean-Baptiste*

Dave Kruger*

Hall Davis

LB Jabaal Sheard

Craig Robertson

D'Qwell Jackson

Paul Kruger

Barkevious Mingo

Quentin Groves

L.J. Fort

Tank Carder

Tommy Smith James-Michael Johnson

Justin Cole

Adrian Moten

Kendrick Adams

Justin Staples* S T.J. Ward

Tashaun Gipson

Johnson Bademosi

Jamoris Slaughter Kenronte Walker

CB Joe Haden

Buster Skrine

Chris Owens

Leon McFadden

Trevin Wade

Kent Richardson Vernon Kearney

Josh Aubrey

Akeem Auguste*

Abdul Kanneh ST Shayne Graham

Spencer Lanning

Christian Yount Brandon Bogotay*

T.J. Conley



The list above contains 54 players that I kept, and 36 players that I cut. I am allowed to carry one extra player in my projections this year because for the first two games of the season, wide receiver Josh Gordon will be serving his suspension. Gordon will not count toward the roster during that stretch.

Every year, I fill in each player's name on either the "roster" side or the "cut" side, without tallying whether or not I have surpassed the 53-player limit. Then, I count up the left side, and if I am over 53 players, I weigh my options and decide who the "tough" cuts are. In 2009 and 2010, I had to cut two players I initially wanted. In 2011, I undershot my projection, and was able to add six other players. In 2012, I had to cut one additional player. This year is the same as last year -- my initial draft came in at one player over the limit.

General Roster Projection Notes

In trying to get down to 53 players (not including Gordon), I needed to cut one additional player who I originally wanted to keep. The positions I looked at trimming included tight end, linebacker, and cornerback. Ultimately, I chose tight end and moved Brad Smelley over to the "cut" side.





over to the "cut" side. I kept Tommy Smith because the Browns initially signed him after a tryout, and I feel like every year at least one undrafted free agent will break through and make the roster. Smith is my choice for 2013. I kept Kent Richardson because hearing about all of those interceptions he had in the AFL is just a tad too enticing at this point in time.





because the Browns initially signed him after a tryout, and I feel like every year at least one undrafted free agent will break through and make the roster. Smith is my choice for 2013. I kept because hearing about all of those interceptions he had in the AFL is just a tad too enticing at this point in time. The Browns' coaching staff and front office seem to be high on Dion Lewis , so I think the fourth running back spot comes down to Chris Ogbonnaya or Brandon Jackson . Personally, I prefer Jackson, but my pre-camp perception is that Ogbonnaya is the preferred player by the staff. If Jackson is getting second-team reps early in camp, I will make a swap in my next roster projection.





, so I think the fourth running back spot comes down to or . Personally, I prefer Jackson, but my pre-camp perception is that Ogbonnaya is the preferred player by the staff. If Jackson is getting second-team reps early in camp, I will make a swap in my next roster projection. Owen Marecic is on the roster. I am not projecting a breakout for the guy, but if we're going to keep a fullback, he'll probably be the best candidate compared to his limited competition.





is on the roster. I am not projecting a breakout for the guy, but if we're going to keep a fullback, he'll probably be the best candidate compared to his limited competition. At wide receiver, I'm hoping that David Nelson gets taken off the PUP shortly into training camp. He can be a huge asset for this offense; if he is healthy, I don't see why he'd get cut. Jordan Norwood would be the team's fifth receiver while Josh Gordon is suspended.





gets taken off the PUP shortly into training camp. He can be a huge asset for this offense; if he is healthy, I don't see why he'd get cut. would be the team's fifth receiver while is suspended. I mentioned earlier that I cut Smelley late, but the player I was actually itching to keep from the get-go was Dan Gronkowski . I'd love for him to have a great camp and unseat Kellen Davis , but I just envision Davis' job being too secure right now.





. I'd love for him to have a great camp and unseat , but I just envision Davis' job being too secure right now. The backup offensive line situation is tough to say after Shawn Lauvao . I went with a veteran, Rashad Butler , since he was good quality depth for the Texans, but was simply always hurt. I don't know if there's a spot to where keeping Ryan Miller is necessary, despite where he was drafted in 2012. Butler would take Oniel Cousins ' typical roster spot. Chris Faulk has the potential, but I'm guessing he starts the season on the PUP/injured reserve and misses all of camp.





. I went with a veteran, , since he was good quality depth for the Texans, but was simply always hurt. I don't know if there's a spot to where keeping is necessary, despite where he was drafted in 2012. Butler would take ' typical roster spot. has the potential, but I'm guessing he starts the season on the PUP/injured reserve and misses all of camp. Besides quarterback, the defensive line position looks like the most sure unit of camp. Those seven guys are going to be the seven guys who make it, right?





The big question mark at linebacker can be slapped on to James-Michael Johnson . I'm trying to look at all of the signs, though -- including Terry Pluto's opinion, Ray Horton's praise for Craig Robertson , and the media recognizing that JMJ wasn't in the picture much during the offseason programs. New signing Justin Cole could make the roster for his special teams work instead of Smith.





. I'm trying to look at all of the signs, though -- including Terry Pluto's opinion, praise for , and the media recognizing that JMJ wasn't in the picture much during the offseason programs. New signing could make the roster for his special teams work instead of Smith. The top four safeties seem pretty set too, as do most of the cornerbacks. Granted, there will be significant competition at free safety and cornerback, but those players aren't really in jeopardy of losing their roster spots.





It wasn't hard to choose Spencer Lanning at punter, but Shayne Graham over Brandon Bogotay was a tough one. Bogotay was praised for his long distance in the offseason practices, but Graham didn't exactly struggle or anything. I'm still sticking with my hunch that the veteran gets the nod.





at punter, but over was a tough one. Bogotay was praised for his long distance in the offseason practices, but Graham didn't exactly struggle or anything. I'm still sticking with my hunch that the veteran gets the nod. The single asterisks on the cut side represent my projected practice squad, which includes WR Cordell Roberson, TE Brad Smelley, C Braxston Cave, DT Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, DL Dave Kruger, LB Justin Staples, CB Akeem Auguste, and K Brandon Bogotay.

Feel free to share your roster projections here, or some changes you would make to mine.