The Cleveland Browns will be one of the league’s youngest teams in 2026. But most of the complications in projecting the team’s initial 53-man roster stem from lingering injury issues.Depth for the rebuilding Browns was a concern in some spots even before injuries began to mount, but the team has multiple veteran players who barely participated in training camp. While the Browns go about the business of cutting players and preparing to explore the waiver wire, they might also consider potential trades to add experience at tight end, cornerback and along the defensive line.All 32 teams must trim their rosters from 90 to the regular-season size of 53 by Sunday. The first run of the waiver wire is Monday, when teams can officially build their 16-man practice squads.After a quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, the Browns will start Watson but still might keep three younger passers. There are gifted young players at running back, wide receiver and tight end, but there’s not much proven depth anywhere — and all three drafted offensive linemen could end up seeing significant playing time this season.Based on the team’s three preseason games and four weeks of training camp practices, here’s our best guess of which players will make the initial 53-man roster under new head coach Todd Monken — and the areas in which the team figures to at least seek external help.What to expect from Deshaun Watson as the Browns' starting QBZac JacksonQuarterback (4)Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Taylen GreenNo one knows where this is headed. The Browns have had at least three starting quarterbacks in each of the last three seasons, and it’s not wild to believe their 2027 starter is not on the roster.It was Watson versus Sanders all summer, and Monken wanted Watson all along. But there’s still no indication that anyone in this room can succeed. How do they construct it? That’s a mystery, too. Unless the Browns find a trade for Gabriel, I think they’ll keep four quarterbacks — at least for now.Perhaps the team will feel comfortable exposing Green to the waiver wire and believing he can return via the practice squad.Running back (4)Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Rocket Sanders, Carsen Ryan (fullback)Judkins is the clear lead runner, Sampson will have a pass-game role and the rest remains unsettled. Veteran fullback Michael Burton missed almost all of training camp and didn’t play in the preseason. Ryan went from playing both fullback and tight end to mostly playing fullback — with mixed results.Even if Burton is healthy, the Browns could cut him without exposing him to the waiver wire because he’s a vested veteran. That means Burton could eventually be back. Rocket Sanders probably will make it, too, and the Browns likely have higher external priorities now. Expect undrafted rookie Davon Booth to make the practice squad.Wide receiver (5)KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, Tylan WallaceEven after he caught two touchdown passes (and nearly a third) in Thursday night’s preseason finale, I have Luke Floriea on the wrong side of the bubble. The Browns have to address pressing needs at other positions, and I’m not sure Floriea can really help on special teams, as any sixth wide receiver would need to.There are clear upgrades at the top. The first five is firm, and Floriea, Gage Larvadain and Malachi Corley are all in the mix. I think the Browns will want Floriea back via the practice squad and that he will eventually get a chance this season. But I can’t see him being among the best 53 right now. Perhaps I’m wrong.Tight end (3)Harold Fannin Jr., Blake Whiteheart, a player not currently on the rosterThe Browns are in the market for a blocking-first tight end. They could even add two tight ends in the coming days after they lost two veterans to season-ending injuries.Rookie fifth-rounder Joe Royer didn’t participate in training camp for undisclosed personal reasons, so even if he returns to the team, it’s impossible to see him contributing soon. Fannin is gifted and will be productive again, but the lack of depth otherwise has limited the team’s ability to work with its full list of eventual personnel groupings.Offensive line (9)The starters: Spencer Fano, Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, Teven Jenkins, Tytus HowardDepth: Austin Barber, Parker Brailsford, Dawand Jones, KT LevestonI’m projecting Leveston in and Zak Zinter out, though that easily could end up being the other way around. The Browns could even look outside for a potential upgrade. Barber seems to be next in line at right guard but also has tackle ability. For now, Jones would be the top backup tackle.After missing almost four weeks, Brailsford was in uniform Thursday night — with a brace on his injured thumb — but did not play. We’ll consider him a roster lock now that he’s preparing to participate again. If he’s in, Luke Wypler is probably out. The Browns could end up keeping either nine or 10 offensive linemen among the initial 53.Defensive line (9)Maliek Collins, Mason Graham, Jared Verse, Isaiah McGuire, Derek Barnett, Mike Hall Jr., Adin Huntington, Kalia Davis, Khordae SydnorFor now, we’re keeping the defensive ends and defensive tackles together in part because Hall is apparently going to play both. The Browns have been scrambling for healthy bodies at tackle all summer, and then lost starting defensive end Alex Wright to a season-ending injury last week. That prompted the addition of Barnett, a 10-year veteran.The Browns had already been seeking another experienced pass rusher, and they’ve tinkered with using Hall on the edge in certain situations. Davis is the toughest projection because he hasn’t participated since the first day of camp, while Sydnor is an undrafted rookie worth tracking. He played on the first kickoff and kickoff return teams in the preseason finale.Logan Fano, Spencer’s brother and the team’s other undrafted rookie defensive end, suffered an injury on the final series of the preseason finale. If he’s healthy, he’ll likely be cut and then land on the practice squad.Linebacker (6)Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Winston Reid, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Justin Jefferson, Nathaniel WatsonSchwesinger and Williams are the clear top two. Reid and Mascarenas-Arnold played as starters in August because Schwesinger was dealing with a minor injury — and because the Browns wanted to evaluate them.The last two spots will be special teams-only players for now, but the team could continue to look for upgrades. Watson can probably be grouped with Zinter, Leveston, Larvadain and Floriea (and some others) as true bubble players, as general manager Andrew Berry explores potential trades and decides which players the Browns don’t want to expose to waivers.Cornerback (6)Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Myles Harden, Mekhi Blackmon, Tre Avery, a player not currently on the rosterTwo top-level starters, one more lock … and a bunch of questions. The Browns were hit hard by injuries in training camp and never had any of their journeymen veterans separate themselves from the options at the bottom of the roster.Blackmon was claimed off waivers Thursday, so while it’s too early to know what role he might have, he’ll be on the roster next week. Undrafted rookie Michael Coats Jr. had a strong camp but wore a protective boot on his right foot Thursday night. It’s hard to project Coats without knowing more about his injury, but it’s not hard to guess the search for more external help will continue.Safety (4)Grant Delpit, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Ronnie Hickman, Donovan McMillonThe Browns have a clear top three, and McNeil-Warren is talented but raw. He’ll probably play sooner rather than later, while McMillon seems to have earned a job for the second straight summer.Veteran Daniel Thomas is in the mix for a special teams job, but he was among the players who missed the preseason finale due to injury. We can’t project him landing on the initial roster without a clearer forecast, but he could eventually contribute if healthy.Special teams (3)Punter Corey Bojorquez, kicker Andre Szmyt, long snapper Rex SunaharaSzmyt was excellent last season after a tough start, and he’s been excellent again during camp. The Browns carried three punters this summer, presumably as part of evaluating their future at the position. But Bojorquez is the incumbent and probably will keep the job for one more season.Sunahara is back as the long snapper, and there’s almost certainly no player who will make the roster strictly as a return specialist. Concepcion should be the No. 1 punt returner, and the kickoff return situation remains fluid.