CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) - The goal for any NFL team is to have difficult decisions to make when it comes to finalizing the initial 53-man roster.

That’s the position that general manager Tom Heckert and head coach Pat Shurmur find themselves in when it comes to several positions.

Do they keep 5 or 6 receivers? Can they afford to keep 2 fullbacks? Who goes – Seneca Wallace or Colt McCoy? Do they have enough defensive linemen? How many safeties or corners should they keep?

With the final cuts set to come by 9 p.m. Friday, here’s the best guess of who’s in and who’s out for the 2012 Cleveland Browns (rookies in italics).

OFFENSE

Receivers (6): Greg Little, Josh Gordon, Mohamed Massaquoi, Travis Benjamin, Josh Cribbs, Jordan Norwood

Offensive linemen (9): Joe Thomas, Jason Pinkston, Alex Mack, Shawn Lauvao, Mitchell Schwartz, John Greco, Oniel Cousins, Jarrod Shaw, Dominic Alford

Quarterbacks (3): Brandon Weeden, Colt McCoy, Thaddeus Lewis

Tight Ends (4): Benjamin Watson, Jordan Cameron, Evan Moore, Alex Smith

Fullbacks (2): Owen Marecic, Brad Smelley

Running backs (3): Trent Richardson, Montario Hardesty, Brandon Jackson

DEFENSE
Defensive Linemen (8): Jabaal Sheard, Ahtyba Rubin, Billy Winn, Frostee Rucker, Juqua Parker, John Hughes, Scott Paxson, Emmanuel Stephens

Linebackers (6): Scott Fujita, D’Qwell Jackson, Kaluka Maiava, James-Michael Johnson, L.J. Fort, Craig Robertson

Safeties (4): Eric Hagg, T.J. Ward, Ray Ventrone, David Sims

Cornerbacks (5): Joe Haden, Sheldon Brown, Dimitri Patterson, Buster Skrine, Trevin Wade

SPECIALISTS
Place Kicker (1): Phil Dawson
Punter/Holder (1): Reggie Hodges
Long Snapper (1): Christian Yount

Practice squad candidates:
Receiver Josh Cooper, running back Adonis Thomas

INJURED RESERVE
Defensive lineman Marcus Benard, defensive lineman Auston English, defensive back Antwuan Reed, linebacker Chris Gocong, linebacker Emmanuel Acho

PUP
Defensive tackle Phil Taylor

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