33-year old Phil Dawson had his most impressive season in the NFL last year and the Browns hope he has some more kicks left in his right leg.  Dawson played in all 16 games for the Browns last season and he converted 26 of 30 (86.7%) field goals.  He also made 42 of 43 extra points last year for the Browns.  Look for Dawson to do a good job for the Browns in 2008.  Dawson has now played in 140 games for the Browns and he has made 182 of 220 field goal attempts (82.7%) in his NFL career.  Dawson has also made 237 of 244 extra points in his career (97.1%).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B-

The Browns have impressive depth at TE seemingly hedging there bets against Kellen Winslow’s health.  Winslow had a true breakout season last year for the Browns.  He has too much speed for linebackers to cover and he’s too big for safeties to deal with almost always giving the Browns the advantage when throwing him the football.  Winslow played in all 16 games for the Browns last season and he caught 82 passes for 1,106 yards (13.5 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Look for Winslow to at least put up similar numbers in 2008 as long as he can stay healthy.  Winslow has now played in 34 games in his NFL career and he has caught 176 passes for 2,031 yards (11.5 avg) with 8 TD grabs.

31-year old Steve Heiden is a solid blocker and he’s usually really effective in catching the ball by the goal line.  He has great hands but little speed to do much after the catch.  Heiden played in all 16 games for the Browns last season and he caught 12 passes for 104 yards (8.7 avg) without a TD grab.  Look for Heiden’s numbers to stay about the same this season as the Browns have a lot of options in the passing game better than Heiden.  Heiden has now played in 116 games in his NFL career and he has caught 168 passes for 1,367 yards (8.1 avg) with 13 TD grabs.

31-year old Darnell Dinkins is a very effective special teams player and that’s where he will likely have to make the team.  Dinkins played in 15 games last season for the Browns and he only caught 1 pass for 15 yards.  Expect Dinkins to get some playing time possibly on running downs as he is a decent blocker.  Dinkins has now played in 62 games in his NFL career and he has caught 20 passes for 187 yards (9.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

The Browns drafted TE Martin Rucker of Missouri because he’s a very effective receiver.  Rucker played in 14 games (all starts) for Missouri last season and he caught 84 passes for 834 yards (9.9 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  Look for Rucker to work his way up the depth chart this season until he’s the primary backup to Winslow at least on passing downs.  Rucker finished up playing in 50 games (all starts) for Missouri in which he caught 203 passes for 2,175 yards (10.7 avg) with 18 TD grabs.

26-year old Brad Cieslak is a long shot to make the Browns.  He’s a big guy at 6′3″, 262 pounds but he didn’t play last season.  Cieslak has now played in 7 games in his NFL career and he has caught 6 passes for 46 yards (7.7 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A

The Browns have gotten bad news about Joe Jurevicius’ knee but they still appear very solid at WR for the 2008 season.  Former first round pick Braylon Edwards had the huge breakthrough season that most experts thought he would have.  The 6′3″, 212 pound Edwards has the speed to get deep and the power to go over the middle.  He also wins most jump balls because of his size.  Edwards played in 16 games for the Browns last season and he caught 80 passes for 1,289 yards (16.1 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  Look for Edwards to have another huge season for the Browns in 2008 complete with a return trip to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.  Edwards has now played in 42 games in his NFL career and he has caught 173 passes for 2,685 yards (15.5 avg) with 25 TD grabs.

27-year old Donte’ Stallworth was brought in to start opposite Edwards and he adds big time speed to the Browns’ offense.  Stallworth played in 16 games with the Patriots last season and he caught 46 passes for 697 yards (15.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 12 yards last year.  Look for Stallworth to catch a lot more passes for the Browns than he did last season for the Patriots as long as he can stay healthy.  Stallworth has now played in 84 games in his NFL career and he has caught 279 passes for 4,213 yards (15.1 avg) with 31 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 12 times for 56 yards (4.7 ypc) in his career.

33-year old Joe Jurevicius has had some surgery on his knees which could cause him to miss some of the 2008 season and possibly all of it.  He played in 16 games for the Browns last season and he caught 50 passes for 614 yards (12.3 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  The Browns were depending on Jurevicius to be the #3 receiver on the team but they will now likely look to others to step up.  Jurevicius has now played in 133 games in his NFL career and he has caught 323 passes for 4,119 yards (12.8 avg) with 29 TD grabs in his career.

25-year old Joshua Cribbs appears to be the leader in the competition to replace Jurevicius for the #3 WR slot on the Browns to start the season.  The Browns will have to be careful with using Cribbs too much on offense because of his jobs as punt returner and kickoff returner which earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl last season.  Cribbs played in all 16 games for the Browns last season and he caught 3 passes for 37 yards (12.3 avg).  He also carried the ball 9 times for 61 yards (6.8 ypc) last season.  Cribbs has the size at 6′1″, 215 pounds and the toughness to handle the #3 job for the Browns this season.  Cribbs has now played in 46 games in his NFL career and he has caught 14 passes for 135 yards (9.6 avg).  He has also carried the ball 11 times for 72 yards (6.5 avg) in his career.

This might be the last chance for 6′1″, 213 pound Travis Wilson to establish himself in the NFL with the Browns.  He was in the dog house last season and did not play in a single game despite being healthy.  Wilson has now played in only 4 games in his NFL career and he has caught 2 passes for 32 yards (16.0 avg).  Don’t expect much out of him in 2008.

6′2″, 214 pound rookie Paul Hubbard could make a move up the depth chart if he’s effective in training camp and the pre-season.  Hubbard played in 8 games (all starts) last season for Wisconsin and he caught 14 passes for 305 yards (21.8 avg).  Hubbard played in 35 games (21 starts) in his career at Wisconsin and he caught 53 passes for 936 yards (17.7 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Hubbard could work his way up the depth chart or down it based on performance.

2nd year man Syndric Steptoe was brought in to compete for the punt return job with Joshua Cribbs but he lost out.  If he wants to stay in the NFL he will have to do it at receiver.  He is only 5′9″, 170 pounds so it’s doubtful that his body will withstand the punishment in the NFL.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B

Lawrence Vickers is a emerging fullback who really helped the Browns’ running game with his blocking.  He will be the starting fullback again for the Browns this season and they might throw him a bone once in a while and let him get his hands on the ball more often than last year.  Vickers is 6′0″, 252 pounds and he’s a solid blocker in the running game and he’s a good receiver out of the backfield.  Vickers played in 16 games (14 starts) for the Browns last season and he carried the ball 15 times for 43 yards (2.9 ypc).  He also caught 13 passes for 91 yards (7.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs last season.  Vickers best football is going to come soon for the Browns as he’s been learning all of the tricks his first two seasons in the NFL.  Vickers has now played in 30 games (15 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 18 times for 45 yards (2.5 ypc).  He has also caught 19 passes for 151 yards (7.9 avg) with 2 TD grabs in his NFL career.

Charles Ali is a bigger back than Vickers at 6′2″, 265 pounds but he’s not as talented.  He played in 13 games (0 starts) for the Browns last season and he never touched the football.  Ali did help the Browns out on special teams however.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B

In hindsight the Browns probably should have brought another back into camp either through the draft or free agency as Jamal Lewis the the only running back on the roster that can carry a heavy workload.  The Browns raised some eyebrows when they signed Lewis last off season but GM Phil Savage looked like a genius during the season.  Lewis is a perfect fit for the Browns as he is the definition of a power back.  He is a beast between the tackles and he can still turn on the jets if he can get to the second level of the defense.  Lewis played in 15 games (all starts) for the Browns last season and he carried the ball 298 times for 1,304 yards (4.4 ypc) with 9 TD runs.  He also caught 30 passes for 248 yards (8.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Lewis proved that he had a lot left in the tank last season so he should pad his career stats as long as he stays healthy.  Lewis has now played in 106 games (102 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 2,120 times for 9,105 yards (4.3 ypc) with 54 TD runs.  He also has caught 190 passes for 1,613 yards (8.5 avg) with 4 TD grabs.

Jason Wright had his best season in the NFL as he gave Lewis frequent breathers during games but he is not the type of back that can carry the load if something happened to Lewis.  Wright does have good hands but he’s not the fastest running back around.  Wright played in 16 games (1 start) for the Browns last season and he carried the ball 60 times for 277 yards (4.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 24 passes for 233 yards (9.7 avg).  Look for Wright to get the ball a little bit more than he did last season as the Browns try to save Lewis’ legs a little bit more in 2008.  Wright has now played in 34 games (4 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 136 times for 503 yards (3.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He has also caught 33 passes for 330 yards (10.0 avg).

Jerome Harrison is the #3 RB on the Browns and he gives the team a shot in the arm when he comes onto the field because of his all out effort.  Despite being only 5′9″, Harrison is more than willing to throw his 210 pound body around.  He played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Browns last season and he carried the ball 23 times for 142 yards (6.2 ypc).  He also caught 2 passes for 19 yards (9.5 avg).  Look for Harrison to get a little bit more playing time this season.  He has now played in 18 games (1 start) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 43 times for 202 yards (4.7 ypc).  He also has caught 11 passes for 66 yards (6.0 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B