Cleveland Browns: 5 players that could benefit from the Kevin Stefanski hire

Baker Mayfield

This one is the most obvious. The one thing Stefanski is going to do is run the ball. That is only going to be a good thing for the Browns and namely Mayfield. Mayfield can play, he didn’t forget in one season. He was in his second year, with a bum offensive line, a banged-up wide receiver, no tight ends or slot receivers to write home about and a head coach calling the wrong plays at the worst times.

With Stefanski, the game plans should be obviously better. He has a history of creative offensive drives and he knows how to manage the game. Hopefully, Stefanski won’t call his own plays, leading to more dialogue and a well-discussed gameplan being crafted from the input of the men hired to be keen observers of the football world.

It also means that Stefanski will re-evaluate the roster, and make improvements; which means the offensive line should receive much-needed upgrades. The team was a wreck in the passing game, losing Kevin Zeitler was not a small blow. It wrecked the line. Wyatt Teller was a poor replacement and the tackles at times looked lost trying to pick up their passing assignments.

The other thing that will change is the depth at receiver. The team was clearly lacking a third option at times and even a second option. Building depth is paramount so that Jarvis Landry can be more effective in the passing game. Tight end is also another position that will be upgraded, as David Njoku is not the guy. Plagued by injuries all year, the soon to be fourth-year player hasn’t lived up to his lofty first-round selection and giving Mayfield a tight end worth his salary will give the quarterback a safety blanket to check down to.

More reliance on the running game will also help Mayfield, as it’ll force defenses to play him honestly and not just prepare for the pass. Something that the Browns got away from at times.