The lines are painted, the parking lot is full(er) and the cafeteria is stocked.
Yes, it's Training Camp week in Berea, and Friday marks the latest landmark moment during Hue Jackson's first season as Browns head coach.
Clearly, everyone is fired up, and the bevy of mailbag questions we had to sort through was a reflection of it.
Out of the Day 3 draft picks this year, who has been the most surprising and looks like they could be a potential superstar? -- Hyrum O, Medford, Oregon
Listen, we're all excited about the prospects of the 2016 Cleveland Browns and the 14 draft picks that were added to the roster. There's a ton of talent and potential in this group and many will make immediate contributions. Because we've yet to see a single moment of these players in pads on the fields of Berea, it's way, way, way too early to make any sort of proclamations about potential superstars. We will, however, analyze the potential each has in front of them and the varying roles they could hold in 2016.
LB Joe Schobert
Schobert isn't a cookie-cutter fit at inside linebacker or outside linebacker, and that's a good thing. He can be used in multiple ways, and his role will be defined as training camp progresses. One thing appears clear, though: He's someone that can help the Browns a lot on special teams.
WR Ricardo Louis
The wide receiver room is as open as any on the team, as seven of the 12 members have never caught a pass in the NFL and only a couple carry significant veteran experience. Louis is a big athlete who could also give the Browns a boost on special teams.
S Derrick Kindred
The tough-as-nails former TCU safety joins a position group that is looking to replace both of its starters from the previous year. Ibraheim Campbell, Jordan Poyer and veteran Rahim Moore have Kindred beat when it comes to experience, but the competition is far from settled. This is becoming a theme, but special teams, like it did for Campbell last year, is a path for Kindred to make an immediate impact.
TE Seth DeValve
This all depends on health, as DeValve will begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The severity of his injury has not been clarified yet, but any missed time hurts for a rookie when it pertains to their ability to play right away. If DeValve heals up quickly, he'll be thrust into a competition with E.J. Bibbs, Connor Hamlett and the other Browns tight ends for the No. 2 spot next to Gary Barnidge.
WR Jordan Payton
The former UCLA reception leader has been making up for lost time over the past month-plus, as he missed all of OTAs and minicamp because of academic requirements in Los Angeles. If he catches up as fast as Danny Shelton did last year in a similar situation, Payton certainly will be in the mix for playing time.
OL Spencer Drango
The Browns have a competition brewing at right tackle, and Drango is in the thick of it. Projected by analysts as a future guard, Drango has impressed so far at the position he played throughout his college career. He'll be competing with veteran Alvin Bailey and third-round pick Shon Coleman among others at this particular spot. How Drango has assimilated himself at a position many outside the organization didn't believe he could play makes him our top surprise among the Day 3 picks.
WR Rashard Higgins
An incredibly productive receiver at Colorado State, Higgins came to Cleveland hungry to prove his doubters wrong after sliding a bit in the draft. The Browns were happy to pounce on Higgins with a compensatory pick and he's looked very comfortable ever since he arrived in Berea.
DB Trey Caldwell
The Browns are very young at cornerback as a whole, and Caldwell is one of the youngest. Keep an eye on him as a potential nickel behind K'Waun Williams and contributor on special teams.
LB Scooby Wright
Already a fan favorite, Wright knows, as a seventh-round pick, nothing will be handed to him. He'll be competing with Tank Carder, Dominique Alexander and others for a spot in Cleveland's inside linebackers room, which had four players last season.
What's the deal with Armonty Bryant? Will he be participating in camp? Is the expectation that he will return to the field in a Browns uniform after serving his 4 game suspension? -- Joseph K, Hudson Falls, N.Y.
Bryant, much like Josh Gordon, will be available to participate in training camp and in the team's preseason games but won't be available until Week 5 when the Browns host the Patriots. At that time, if the Browns opt to elevate Bryant to the 53-man roster, a corresponding move would have to occur to make room for him.
Bryant will be a player to watch throughout the preseason after the previous coaching staff used him as a defensive lineman/linebacker hybrid. The Browns added a number of new faces at outside linebacker and are looking for help on the defensive line after Desmond Bryant went down with a pectoral injury.
The depth at running back seems to be very thin. I like all the positive talk about the position but injuries happen. Why hasn't anyone talked about a need for a backup running back? -- Victor S., Lakewood, Colorado
We've talked about it plenty over the past few months, and the reason behind the lack of anxiety likely stems from the confidence Jackson and Co. have in the players who may not be all that familiar to fans now, but should be in the near future. Terrell Watson, Raheem Mostert and Glenn Winston are all young and loaded with potential and have the ability to provide a nice No. 3 option behind Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson.
Will Mingo be tested at one of the safety positions? I've read that he's bulked up since last season but the OLB position may be tough to crack. -- Joe D., Orlando
There has been no indication Mingo is playing anywhere but outside linebacker in 2016.
