Cleveland Browns Power Rankings: Top 15 Players
The orange and brown have already played nine games, so the team is past the mid-point of the current season. I wanted to get these Cleveland Browns power rankings up before the Bengals contest, but with a short week culminating in a thrilling Thursday night win in Cincinnati, I just didn’t have time.
Hey, if players and coaches can use short weeks as excuses, so can the bloggers.
1. Competent and consistent play at the quarterback position has the Browns in first place this late in the season for the first time since 1995. Hoyer’s mentally tough, with a knack for fourth-quarter comebacks. He’s this team’s MVP though its first nine games.. QB. Cleveland Browns. BRIAN HOYER
With his league-leading six interceptions, Gipson’s the ball-hawking safety the Brows have yearned for.. FS. Cleveland Browns. TASHAUN GIPSON. 2
3. At left tackle, there’s nobody better. He’s allowed five pressures in his nine games this season. There were 14 lineman who allowed five or more pressures in Week 10, alone, per PFF. Pending injury, Thomas is a lock for another Pro Bowl . LT. Cleveland Browns. JOE THOMAS
JOEL BITONIO. 4. Pro Football Focus rates this rookie from Nevada as the fifth rated guard in the NFL. A Pro Bowl spot awaits if he maintains his current play.. LG. Cleveland Browns
5. At 33, Dansby’s the quarterback of the defense. He’s a veteran leader who leads the Browns with 69 tackles and has played on all but one of the Browns’ defensive snaps this season.. MLB. Cleveland Browns. KARLOS DANSBY
His pregame speech prior to Thursday night’s Bengals game was described by Karlos Dansby as the best he’s ever heard–and he’s played in a Super Bowl. Whitner might the the lifeblood of the defense.. SS. Cleveland Browns. DONTE WHITNER. 6
7. He’s no where close to matching Josh Gordon’s physical dimensions, but he’s scrappy and doing his best to produce. Most importably, he catches the ball, and has 39 receptions under his belt this season.. WR. Cleveland Browns. ANDREW HAWKINS
With seven sacks, nine quarterback hits and 15 quarterback hurries, the Browns are getting the type of production they thought they would get from Kruger a season ago.. OLB. Cleveland Browns. PAUL KRUGER. 8
JOE HADEN. 9. Pro Bowl Joe got off to a slow start, but now it appears he’s getting himself on track.. CB. Cleveland Browns
10. Pro Football Focus rates Greco as one of the best run blocking guards in the NFL. RG. Cleveland Browns. JOHN GRECO
11. With 19 quarterback hurries, the second-round selection of former general manager Tom Heckert is tied for 7th in the NFL among outside linebackers playing in a 3-4 defense.. OLB. Cleveland Browns. JABAAL SHEARD
The Rabbit forgot how to return punts, but he’s come up with some big catches as a receiver.. WR. Cleveland Browns. TRAVIS BENJAMIN. 12
BARKEVIOUS MINGO. 13. As long as he falters as a consistent pass rusher, he’ll be labeled a draft bust. However, Mingo does have value in pass coverage, and despite only having one sack, owns 11 quarterback hurries.. OLB. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns. TAYLOR GABRIEL. 14. The undrafted rookie has 24 catches, which breaks down to 18.1 yards per catch. That’s the fourth best average in the NFL. When you come from Abilene Christian, you’re lucky to have roster spot, let alone be one of the NFL’s statistical leaders.. WR
WR. Cleveland Browns. ISAIAH CROWELL. 15. The Alabama State product has collected five touchdown runs for a team that netted a whopping grand total of four ground scores all of last season. He’s part of a three-headed monster that includes Ben Tate and Terrance West, but it’s the opinion of many that “The Crow” has the most home-run potential.
Next: SI Mock Draft Has Michigan WR, Stanford OL Going To Browns