Cedric Tillman, Carson Schwesinger and other Browns with important roles this season

The Cleveland Browns are on vacation until mid-July.

When full training camp opens July 22, the quarterback competition will be the headline story for a team trying to rebound from a 3-14 season.

Joe Flacco, 40, is the favorite to win the starting quarterback job, but nothing is settled.

An offseason of uncertainty started with All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett making a public trade demand before signing an extension that included almost $124 million in guaranteed money.

Advertisement Its not wild to say that Flacco and Garrett loom as the teams two most important players ahead of the season.

Go ahead and call that a spoiler alert, though, as well dive further into that theory later.

As of now, well be exploring some of the teams other important players some clearly in the long-term plans, some not ahead of the Browns getting back to work next month.

Consider this list more an explanation of some of the teams most important players based on current roster construction, perceived strengths and key offseason decisions.

Each player is listed with their age as of Week 1 and their 2025 salary-cap number.

Denzel Ward, CB Age: 28 2025 cap number: $24.6 million Ward is coming off his best season and another year of perfect attendance in the teams offseason program.

He is focused on turning more pass breakups into interceptions and game-changing plays, and that might be necessary for the Cleveland defense to return to the level at which it played for a lot of 2023.

Regardless of how things turn out with fellow cornerbacks Martin Emerson Jr.

and Greg Newsome II entering the final year of their current contracts, the Browns need another big season from Ward.

CLAMPS @denzelward pic.twitter.com/Bc45SNjwXQ Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 12, 2025 Wyatt Teller, G Age: 31 2025 cap number: $14.2 million The Browns need to run the ball a whole lot better in 2025 than they did last year.

Thats been a theme of the offseason, and an offensive turnaround figures to include a new set of highlights in which Teller is throwing punishing downfield blocks.

Hes entering the final year of his current contract.

Not only would Teller earning an extension later this year or in early 2026 likely signal that he remained healthy and again played at a high level, but it would be important to the teams future.

Teller is currently due to count around $19.5 million on Clevelands 2026 salary cap, even though hes not under contract, thanks to the Browns re-working of several veteran deals over the last two years.

Advertisement The Deshaun Watson experiment had multiple consequences, and the Browns likely will continue to re-work contracts and push money forward with anticipated (and necessary) annual jumps in the NFLs salary cap.

Teller, fellow guard Joel Bitonio and center Ethan Pocic are all signed only for 2025.

But before the Browns worry too much about the future of the line, theyre banking on this trio to continue playing well and helping revitalize a ground game that figures to be eventually headlined by rookie running back Quinshon Judkins.

Cedric Tillman, WR Age: 25 2025 cap number: $1.5 million The Browns did not draft a wide receiver this year.

Diontae Johnson was added in late April, but his one-year contract includes no guaranteed money.

Its clear the team is banking on Tillman being able to build on his big stretch in the middle of last season.

Yes, Jerry Jeudy is an important player and the teams undisputed No.

1 receiver.

But he got his big financial commitment from the Browns last year, and then played in every game while delivering the best season of his career.

Tillman should be in line for a full-time role this year, and he could complement Jeudy in an offense that could incorporate a lot of deep passes if Flacco is the starting quarterback.

In any case, Tillman brings size that no one else in the receiving group has.

He produced his first three NFL touchdowns in October and November last season.

He missed the final six games due to a concussion, but with two years left on his rookie deal, Tillman is still viewed internally as an ascending player.

Grant Delpit, S Age: 27 2025 cap number: $5.9 million The Browns like Delpits demeanor and versatility.

For the defense to reach its goals, it might need Delpit to consistently deliver more big plays.

With Rodney McLeod having retired and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out for the season due to a neck injury, theres a major leadership void in the middle of the defense and room for more playmaking.

Advertisement Cleveland made a big financial commitment to Delpit late in the 2023 season.

Its time for the sixth-year safety to play like one of the teams best players.

Carson Schwesinger, LB Age: 22 2025 cap number: $2.1 million Frankly, each of the teams first three 2025 draft picks Mason Graham, Schwesinger and Judkins fit on this list in their own way.

The Browns traded back in the draft and took Graham No.

5 overall as part of their ongoing investment at defensive tackle.

Judkins might not start right away, but hes expected to play a lot and produce in his rookie season.

Its not that Schwesinger needs to play 90 percent of the snaps immediately, but the Browns used the No.

33 pick on him with Owusu-Koramoahs football future in question.

Schwesinger is big, instinctual and will help immediately on special teams.

In a crowded and fluid linebacker group, the next four linebackers on the unsettled early depth chart are only signed for 2025.

So the Browns want to know theyre on the right track with a future leader at the position.

There was plenty of pre-draft buzz surrounding Schwesinger despite him being just a one-year college starter.

The Browns didnt think they could wait to pick him, and he figures to be in a full-time role that could include calling the defensive signals at some point early in the season.

Dawand Jones, LT Age: 24 2025 cap number: $1.2 million Jones has mostly played right tackle but shifted to the left side last year before suffering a season-ending broken leg.

Jones had arthroscopic knee surgery, but he was cleared to participate in much of the formal offseason program.

Jones, whos listed at 374 pounds, has lost a significant amount of weight and has said thats a big part of why hes optimistic that hes ready for his best season .

Hes a popular figure inside the team facility, and its clear hes the top choice to win the left tackle job now and into the foreseeable future.

With two years left on his rookie deal and the offense in a transition period on multiple fronts, Jones being able to stay healthy and lock down the left tackle spot would be significant for the teams short- and long-term planning.

Advertisement Dustin Hopkins, K Age: 34 2025 cap number: $2.8 million Obviously, Hopkins gets paid well to make his kicks.

Its not a stretch to think the Browns might have to win their share of close, low-scoring games if theyre going to be playoff contenders at any point in 2025.

But coming off Hopkins nightmarish 2024 season, his outlook can also fairly be tied to some bigger-picture issues.

Hopkins and special teams coach Bubba Ventrone were both rightly celebrated for their contributions in the 11-win season of 2023.

Hopkins got a contract extension from general manager Andrew Berry before last season, then made just 18 of 27 field goals and also missed three PATs.

Hopkins simply has to be better, immediately, or the Browns will have to move on.

(Top photo of Carson Schwesinger: Nick Cammett / Getty Images).

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