Mailbag: What's to like and not like about the roster?

Q: What are you liking and disliking about this Browns roster?— @MrEd315A: Let's go positive first.I love the defensive line. I expect Myles Garrett to have the best season of his career, as promised. Alex Wright is poised for a breakout season and I'm eager to see Mason Graham, Maliek Collins and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. You can add Mike Hall Jr. to the list once he gets healthy.Browns-Bengals Preview: 3 things to watch, 3 key numbers, the predictionI believe the aging offensive line has another strong year in it and is energized by the system changes. Receiver Jerry Jeudy wasn't a one-year wonder. Tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. will benefit from Joe Flacco at quarterback. Carson Schwesinger is the real deal.The concerns are all the receivers behind Jeudy, the cornerbacks after Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II and unproven kicker Andrew Szmyt.Q: Since Quinshon Judkins was not officially in the NFL, how can the league punish him for something he did before he was in the league?— John SixA: Rules don't apply to the mighty NFL.I'm only half-kidding.Browns Preview 2025: Rookie LB Carson Schwesinger keeps beating the oddsIn Judkins' case, his incident happened in July, well after he had been drafted and joined the Browns — even if his official contract wasn't signed until Saturday. So he doesn't have an argument.The Isaiah Bond situation is different. The sexual assault arrest — a Texas grand jury later declined to indict — happened before the draft, yet the league continues to review his case with discipline possible. The collective bargaining agreement and player contracts allow for discipline from the league regarding its personal conduct policy, and the reach extends beyond their entrance into the league.Q: With the run game as a major question mark, how do you believe reps will be split between rookie Dylan Sampson and veteran Jerome Ford in Week 1? How *should* they be split?— @ideashiftA: I think they'll be split pretty much right down the middle. The coaches worked hard to get Sampson up to speed and ready for an increased role while Judkins was out. But they have to be realistic and understand a 5-foot-8, 200-pound rookie can't handle the bulk of the reps in Week 1. That's where the luxury of Ford and his experience comes in handy.Browns Preview 2025: Joe Flacco's still got the technique — and hopefully a little more left in the tankIf I were in charge of the lineup, I'd use Ford 60 percent of the time. I like him more than most people do.Q: Why do we rip on competitive Guards and Cavs and put up with, at best, mediocre Browns?— @sisyphus196A: That's a deep question for a Sunday morning. But I like it.As someone who's covered the Browns for 20-plus years, I appreciate the devotion to the Browns, regardless of record. And I have spent a lot of time thinking about why that is. Part of it is that it's football. Northeast Ohioans love football, and the Browns are the beneficiary of that. For older fans, the Browns are still tied to wonderful childhood memories, whether it was the 1964 championship, the Kardiac Kids or the Bernie Kosar teams. For younger fans, who haven't seen the same success, the NFL has grown so much, everything is a spectacle and the Browns are tied into that. Plus, they've heard all the stories and inherited the passion."Put up" is an interesting way to phrase your question. The fans' frustration over the Browns' consistent losing and dysfunction is obvious. But they are willing to put it aside to cheer and obsess about their favorite team.As for the comparison with the Guardians and Cavaliers, I understand any and all anger those organizations feel when they don't get their fair share of the spotlight.If your handle means anything, you can relate to pushing a rock up a hill for eternity.Q: Has a team with this many rookies, especially UDFAs, ever made the playoffs?— @ideashiftA: Sorry, Chris, I didn't have time to do the research. But I will certainly keep that question in mind if the Browns shock the world and make a run at the postseason.While that's not a satisfactory answer, I am glad you brought up the topic. It's difficult to expect the Browns to be a serious contender based solely on keeping 12 rookies. Remember the years when we thought the roster was loaded and would talk about how tough it would be for seven rookies to make the team. Twelve is a ton, especially six undrafted guys. That illustrates a roster in transition, focused on development and with an eye on the future.It doesn't mean the Browns can't make the playoffs, but it makes it even more difficult.The post Mailbag: What's to like and not like about the roster? first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.