From worst to possibly first, the Browns have the NFL’s most intriguing offense.
The Cleveland Browns just missed the 2018 playoffs, ending the season at 7-8-1. Winning seven games was a massive improvement for what had been the NFL’s worst team. But losing did yield benefits. The Browns drafted Baker Mayfield #1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
After Tyrod Taylor went down with an injury, Mayfield became a rookie starter and never looked back. Since then, the Browns’ stock has only risen. And, now, this team is the odds-on choice to win the AFC North and make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.
Here’s why.
Quarterback – Baker Mayfield
Courtesy: Wall Street Journal
Mayfield, who was named Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America, had a great rookie debut. He threw for 3,725 yards and 27 TDs (a rookie record for most passing touchdowns). He also made the All-Pro first team and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
This year, look for Mayfield to make good use of an array of offensive studs. In the run game, he has Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the Browns’ two-headed monster, playing behind him. On the outside, Mayfield has studs Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. They’ll enable Baker to pick apart defenses left and right!
Baker is young, too. Expect him to improve as the season progresses.
Backfield – Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt (and, perhaps, Duke Johnson)
The Browns will be good right off the bat with Nick Chubb, but they will become great when Hunt returns (from suspension) in Week 9.
Chubb didn’t emerge fully until the front office traded Carlos Hyde. Then he became the main man, finishing the year with 996 yards and eight TDs. And make no mistake about it: Chubb will also contribute in the passing game.
Hunt has already shown what he can do. The Chiefs used him in the flats and in wheel routes. Hunt excelled at both.
Still questionable is whether Browns will have Duke Johnson for the 2019 campaign. Johnson wants out. If he’s still a Brown, then expect Mayfield to involve him heavily in the passing game.
Wideouts – Odell Beckham Jr, Jarvis Landry, et al.
OBJ! (photo, Waiting For Next Year)
With Odell’s signing, a solid receiving corps has become exceptional. He’ll be reunited with Landry, and the two of them will inflict heavy damage on NFL defenses.
And they aren’t alone. Defenses will also need to pay attention to other Browns, including Antonio Calloway, David Njoku, and the guys coming out of the backfield.
The only thing holding this team back is coordination. The O-Line will need to do its job. Receivers will need to be on the same page. Expect both.
********************
Wouldn’t you like to be Freddie Kitchens? I would! The once-woeful Browns have an opportunity to be something special.
Yes, I know, only time will tell. But I, for one, can’t wait for September 8th!
