The Cleveland Browns entered the next stage of their player evaluations for the 2026 NFL season with the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. While the starting lineup seems to be set on offense, except for quarterback and perhaps right guard, and on defense, there are jobs available on the final 53-man roster.
Even after two weeks of training camp, plenty of players still have a chance to make an impression and earn a spot on the team. This is especially true at wide receiver and in the secondary.
Insider Tony Grossi identified the Browns’ biggest preseason position battles, with the wideout competition particularly challenging.
“I believe the top five receivers are locked in. They are [Denzel] Boston, [KC] Concepcion, Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond and Tylan Wallace. That leaves a five-man battle for probably one last spot among Cedric Tillman, Gage Larvadain, Malachi Corley, Luke Floriea, and Kole Wilson. The top three cornerbacks are Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, and Myles Harden. Depth after that is uncertain. Tre Avery and Nate Evans have a chance to solidify roster spots while GM Andrew Berry continues to audition backup cornerbacks,” Grossi wrote.
Tillman was unable to help his cause on Saturday as one of 16 Browns who were ruled out. Entering his fourth NFL season, Tillman has missed 10 games over the past two seasons due to multiple injuries, and he has just 71 receptions in the 38 career games he has been able to play.
Corley filled something of a gadget player role in his first season with Cleveland, and he was seen as a potential weapon in new head coach Todd Monken’s offense. But it seems that he has been surpassed by Wallace, who played under Monken as his offensive coordinator for the past three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
On defense, Campbell is also sitting out on Saturday, allowing Avery and Evans to make an impression as the potential primary backup at the position. D’Angelo Ross and Myles Bryant are other cornerbacks not facing the Bears.
In addition to the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel will try to prove he deserves to stay on the roster in a limited late-game appearance. The Browns are also trying to figure out their rebuilt offensive line, with Teven Jenkins and Dawand Jones possibly competing for the final starting spot.
Depth is a critical component for any successful NFL team, so these roster decisions could have an underrated impact on the Browns’ fortunes this year.
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