Dawgs By Nature
Can Joe Flacco and the Browns turn back time? There are a few players left that remember the magical run in 2024
Expecting aged QB Joe Flacco to return to the glory of the 2023 season with the Cleveland Browns is unrealistic. The magic from that season can’t be bottled up, no matter what, but that doesn’t mean the 2025 Browns can’t find success, maybe just in a different way.
With the constant turnover in the NFL, there are a lot of differences between the roster that will take the field for the remainder of offseason activities and training camp in Berea and the one that took the field in the playoffs two seasons ago for Cleveland. There are, however, some players left who remember what that magic looked like and could lead the way again.
A look at the Browns roster, via the “unofficial depth chart” for the Houston Texans playoff game, we see who is left and who (shown with a line through their names below) has departed:
Quarterback
Joe Flacco, PJ Walker, Jeff Driskel
Running back
Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt, Pierre Strong Jr., Nick Harris (Listed as a FB)
Wide receiver
Amari Cooper, Marquise Goodwin, Elijah Moore, James Proche II, Cedric Tillman, David Bell
Tight end
David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Jordan Akins
Offensive line
Geron Christian Sr., Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, James Hudson III, Leroy Watson IV, Luke Wypler, Michael Dunn
Defensive line
Myles Garrett, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jordan Elliott, Za’Darius Smith, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Sam Kamara, Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire, Siaki Ika, Shelby Harris
Linebacker
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (on Browns roster but won’t play in 2025), Tony Fields II, Sione Takitaki, Jordan Kunaszyk, Matthew Adams, Mohamoud Diabate
Cornerback
Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr., Greg Newsome II, Cameron Mitchell, Kahlef Hailassie, Mike Ford Jr.
Safety
D’Anthony Bell, Juan Thornhill, Duron Harmon, Ronnie Hickman
Special Teams
Kicker Dustin Hopkins, Punter Corey Bojorquez, Long Snapper Charley Hughlett
In total, 25 out of the 53 players on the Browns roster for the 2023 playoff game are still on the team’s 90-man roster now. It is important to note that some players, like S Grant Delpit and OLmen Dawand Jones and Jack Conklin, were not on that roster due to injuries but were around the team that season.
What stands out to you looking back on the roster that Cleveland took to Houston for the playoff game two seasons ago? Are there areas of this year’s roster that you think could be better than that team?
Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below
