Cleveland Browns Depth Chart 2019 Browns Depth Chart

Preseason Analysis: Playoff Aspirations

Offseason Moves

No team in the league had as eventful of an offseason as had the Browns.

Firstly, the coaching staff went through a complete makeover. Jackson was fired midway through the 2018 season, and interim head coach Gregg Williams was replaced by Kitchens, the offensive coordinator with whom Baker Mayfield has a great relationship. Although Kitchens will call the plays, he will be aided by new offensive coordinator Todd Monken from Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks becomes the new defensive coordinator, taking over for Williams.

As far as player personnel changes, no move was as significant as Cleveland’s trade for Odell Beckham Jr., one of the most dynamic players and brightest stars in the NFL. The addition of Beckham to a receiving corps of Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, and David Njoku gives Mayfield a plethora of options and creates nightmare matchups for opposing defenses. Even without Beckham, the Browns had one of the better passing attacks in the league, with Mayfield a rookie. With Beckham on the roster, in Mayfield’s second year, it might just be unfair.

Another key offseason pickup for the Cleveland offense was the signing of former Kansas City running back Kareem Hunt, who was released from the Chiefs after a video circulated of him physically assaulting a woman. Hunt, who will be suspended for eight games, is an ultra-productive player who will give the Browns a three headed monster at running back when he returns.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Browns signed defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson who had a productive, if uneven season last year for the Minnesota Vikings. Joining Richardson as a newcomer on defense will be Olivier Vernon, a pass rusher that the Browns acquired from the Giants. In 11 games last year, Vernon tallied seven sacks, giving Cleveland help in the area that they finished 22nd in last season.

However, Cleveland’s offseason consisted not only of additions but also of subtractions. Safety Jabrill Peppers was sent to the Giants in the Beckham trade, and offensive guard Kevin Zeitler went to New York in exchange for Vernon. Both players are undoubtedly starting caliber, with Peppers flashing star potential in his second season. Additionally, linebacker Jamie Collins leaves in free agency to re-sign with the Patriots.

Looking Ahead

With all of the talent on this Cleveland roster, anything less than a postseason birth would be disappointing, which is crazy to think considering that the Browns haven’t even had a winning record since 2007.

It all starts with Baker Mayfield. As a rookie, Mayfield had 3725 yards and 27 touchdowns in just 14 games. In the second half of the season, he had a passer rating of 106.2, which would have been fifth in the league if maintained for 16 games. Any sort of leap from him would catapult the offense into the league’s elite.

As mentioned earlier, Beckham takes the receiving corps to the next level, allowing Landry to operate in his preferred role as a short and intermediate target. Beckham is as complete of a receiver as there is in the league, capable of lining up and exploiting matchups all over the field. His mere presence should demand significant attention which should give Mayfield bigger windows when throwing to Landry, Callaway, or Njoku.

Beckham’s presence should also open up the run game even more. As a rookie, Chubb gained 996 yards on the ground despite only taking over as the lead runner in the seventh game of the season. He will be complemented by the pass catching skills of Duke Johnson and then joined by Hunt midway through the season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Vernon and Richardon join star Myles Garrett to create a formidable front, while rookie Greedy Williams joins Denzel Ward in the secondary to create a unit with high potential.

If the defense can piece together their star players and become a middle of the pack unit with a high propensity for turnover causation, this team should have its first winning season since 2007, and the playoffs are not at all an unrealistic goal.