Holding the No. 1 job while Edwards is out is Joe Jurevicius, whose 10 TD grabs last season tied him for the third-highest total in the league. He is a big man at 6'5”, and excellent leaper, and is faster than most expect him to be. While Darrell Jackson was out last season in Seattle, Jurevicius became one of Matt Hasselbeck's favorite targets and the team's big-play man. He will get a lot of use in the red zone due to his size and solid hands.
Working out of the slots when the full receiving corps is healthy will be Dennis Northcutt and rookie Travis Wilson. Northcutt figures to be the #2 receiver while Edwards finishes his recovery and is a somewhat accomplished receiver, with 39 starts over his six years in the NFL as well as having hauled in 254 catches for better than 3200 yards. He's a lightning-quick receiver with good hands and a knack for getting open underneath and racking up yards after the catch. In other words, he's everything you look for in a slot receiver.
Rookie Travis Wilson is a long and lean receiver, and managed to stand out as a receiver at Oklahoma, a team that has predominantly run the ball in recent years. He's quicker than he looks and has very solid hands, and should adjust well to the NFL.
Competing for the last roster spot are Frisman Jackson and Josh Cribbs, two talented but young and inconsistent receivers. Jackson has the edge based on NFL experience as a receiver, but the ultimate deciding factor will be who can play better on special teams, and Cribbs holds an edge there.
At tight end, 2004 first-round pick Kellen Winslow is finally expected to contribute after two straight season-ending leg injuries. He has tremendous natural talent and should be a nightmare across the middle for defenses for years to come.
Behind him are Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins, two veterans who have firmly entrenched themselves into their niches. Heiden is a cagey veteran with 54 starts in his seven years of experience, and is an excellent blocker and able receiver underneath. Dinkins has only eight starts, but has flashed potential on numerous occasions as a receiver, and is a very able blocker, especially after his stint in Baltimore.
Offensive Line: The loss of C LeCharles Bentley during the team's first practice in training camp hurts, badly, especially after his first replacement, Bob Hallen, abruptly retired and HIS replacement, Alonzo Ephraim, was suspended for four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Currently filling the void is Ross Tucker, a player traded for from the New England Patriots after Bentley went down. Tucker has experience there from his days in Buffalo, but is seen as an average player better suited as a supersub on the depth chart. If Tucker goes down, the Browns will again scramble to find a replacement, and the cupboard is getting awfully bare, although undrafted rookie Rob Smith had some experience there in college.
The starting tackle spots look to be held down by newcomer Kevin Shaffer and stalwart Ryan Tucker. Tucker's an absolute grinder and is one of the best in the game at RT, while Shaffer is a good pass blocker but will be limited in the Browns' power-blocking run game due to his smaller size and frame. He was, however, the only consistent cog in the Falcons' line the past two seasons, so that does say quite a bit about his overall ability.
Behind the starters at tackle are third-year veteran Nat Dorsey and fourth-round rookie Issac Sowells. Dorsey got seven starts in his rookie year with Minnesota, and is a valuable member of the line as he can fill in ably at both tackle and guard. Sowells was a three-year starter at left tackle in college and performed very well, and possesses very good natural tools, especially in the footwork and handwork departments.
At guard, veterans Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman look to have the starting spots locked up again. Both are on the downsides of their careers, but both still have enough in their tanks to play one more season at a high level. Likely to be backing them up are Dave Yovanovits, a fourth-year player and former supersub for the Jets, and Kirk Chambers, a third-year player who's done well off the bench the past two seasons.
Defense
Defensive Line: This is a solid, if unspectacular, veteran unit that can and will get the job done. Alvin McKinley and Orpheus Roye are able to generate more pressure from their DE spots than most 3-4 DEs, and Ted Washington can simply clog any hole he is assigned to just with his huge frame.
Behind them are Ethan Kelly, rookie Babatunde Oshinowo, Simon Fraser, and Nick Eason. Eason impressed last year when given significant playing time, and while Ethan Kelley has never seen much field time, he's always flashed tremendous potential in preseason games and training camps.
