Five Cleveland Browns whose stocks need a big boost at Training Camp.
The Cleveland Browns should be entering Training Camp by the end of the month, depending on whether players believe owners are doing enough to keep them healthy.
What will the season actually look like? That’s only something that be answered by Father Time. Right now, it remains unclear on what Training Camp will look like. Additionally, the preseason was only supposed to be two games. The players want none. The NFL recently countered by asking for one exhibition before the season gets underway.
Then, if there is a season, will teams make it though the entire schedule? It’s too hard to say, so this is written with the hope that there will be a Training Camp and a football season.
If that’s the case, the Browns are going to be one of the more intriguing teams to watch.
They’re a team that’s loaded with weapon on offense, but with a first-year head coach, fans are cautiously optimistic following a season in which another rookie sideline general flamed out spectacularly.
The Browns enter 2020 as a young team with plenty of potential, but at some point, potential doesn’t win games. Results do.
And players who have potential, but have failed to translate that potential into production take a good chunk of space on this list.
Veterans will be counted on to, of course, and there’s a couple who will need a bounce back season if the Browns are going to compete for the playoffs.
Here’s five Browns whose stock could use a boost during Training Camp as they’ll be counted on once the season starts.
Olivier Vernon, DE
Toward the end of December, there weren’t many who believed Olivier Vernon would be on the Cleveland Browns entering 2020.
The Browns flirted with Jadeveon Clowney, which furthered the belief the organization would cut Vernon at some point.
But then, the Browns re-negotiated Vernon’s contract. Instead of paying $15 million, they’ll gamble $11 million that he can stay healthy and be a productive pass rusher opposite Myles Garrett. Vernon’s new deal ended any chance of Clowney joining the team, as Andrew Berry signaled the organization was ready to move forward with what they have.
Vernon is the last year of a contract, and he’ll hit free agency this winter, meaning he needs to stay healthy so he can put up numbers. Big offers just won’t be there for a 30-year-old who hasn’t played a full season since 2016.
If he’s healthy, he should be productive, as Pro Football Focus was actually very kind to veteran when he was healthy enough to play.
But this a big season for Vernon, not only in helping the Browns’ defense, but for the future of his NFL career.
Baker Mayfield
A year ago, I would’ve never imaged putting Baker Mayfield among these players, but the reality is that the third year of the quarterback’s career is going to be a big one.
Next offseason, the Browns will be eligible to offer Mayfield an extension. They will, if they view him as the franchise quarterback we thought him to be back in 2018.
With turnovers galore in 2019, though, there’s hesitancy to believe Mayfield is the player who can lead the Browns to the Super Bowl.
A lot of Mayfield’s problems were attributed to Freddie Kitchens, and some of that criticism is fair. However, Mayfield’s the one out there making reads and throwing the ball. All of those picks he threw go next to his name in the stat column, not Kitchens.
A lot of pundits, myself included, think Baker’s going to get new life playing for Kevin Stefanski, who zone blocking scheme is expected to elevate Mayfield’s game. Let’s hope so, because Mayfield’s stock certainly needs it.
OBJ, WR
Preseason wide receiver rankings have OBJ ranked anywhere from 10-12 entering 2020. That’s still really good, but it’s also an indication of how Beckham’s stock has sunk.
There was once a time it could be argued that he was the best wideout in the game. Top three, at least.
We all want Beckham to succeed, because it greatly benefits the Browns, but I’m still skeptical. OK, he was battling injuries a season ago and played in 16 games, but the facts are the facts–and those facts, which can be annoying at times, tell that it’s been three seasons since Beckham was truly an elite receiver.
Beckham recently defended himself by pointing out that he still had over 1,000 yards despite being injured, and while that’s all well and good, I evaluate him a different way.
If you watched the Browns offense last season, you can’t count on one hand the number of times Beckham truly was a game change.
He did it twice in Week 2 against the Jets, when he took a slant for pay dirt, and of course, there was that one-handed catch.
I’m sure there were more instances, but the only other thing that comes to mind is his fabulous catch in the finale against the Bengals.
To bottom line it: He had as many touchdowns (4) as Ricky Seals-Jones.
With this in mind, I’ll be looking for Beckham to make a difference, week in and week out. I think that’s fair because it’s going to be hard for him to compile 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Browns offense is loaded with weapons and the opportunities to put up those types of numbers just won’t be there.
David Njoku, TE
How much has David Njoku’s stock sunk since the Browns made him a first-round pick in 2017? Rumor has it that if the Browns did seek to grant his trade request, they might only be able to fetch a fourth-round pick for him.
Earlier this offseason, the Browns showed confidence in Njoku by picking up his fifth-year option, capping off a crazy 365 days for the Miami product. He entered 2019 camp with big expectations, got hurt, fell out of favor with the GM and coach, returned at the of the season, was basically benched, re-gained favor in light of Andrew Berry becoming the GM to this month’s trade request.
There’s nothing left for Njoku to do now except prove himself. He comes loaded with potential. If you could create a tight end in a lab, you’d make him look like Njoku. Now it’s time to take what he could be, into tangible results.
We got a glimpse of what Njoku’s capable of back in 2018, when Mayfield was quick to utilize tight ends.
Now, Njoku seems upset that the Browns have invested in tight end by signing Austin Hooper and drafting Hunter Bryant. Even so, Stefanski’s offense loves passes thrown to tight ends, and it’s unrealistic to view Bryant playing a ton opposite Hooper in his debut season.
The opportunity is there for Njoku, now, he needs to do something with it.
Terrance Mitchell
The Cleveland Browns enter Training Camp with Denzel Ward securing one safety job, while Greedy Williams should start on the opposite side. Both come with an injury history while Williams still has a lot to prove entering his second year as pro.
The Browns also signed former No. 1 overall pick, Kevin Johnson during the offseason to a one-year pact. Johnson was drafted by the Texans and played with the Bills last season.
That leaves Mitchell as the veteran on the bench, where teammates such as Tavierre Thomas, Donnie Lewis Jr., Robert Jackson and undrafted rookie free agent A.J. Green looking to secure a roster spot. The Browns really like Green, evidenced by the amount of money they paid the Oklahoma State product to lure him to Cleveland.
Green was paid about the same amount of money typically paid to a sixth-round pick.
So where’s Mitchell stand? He posted a grade of 63.1 at PFF, so if you buy what the analytics is selling, he’s ripe to be replaced. I’m not sure if a lack of Training Camp helps or hurts the veteran because while he won’t be able to prove himself to coaches, the younger, unproven players won’t have as many opportunities to impress, either.
Mitchell is a player fans should want to root for. He’s a former seventh round pick (2014) who’s earned everything that’s come his way. He’s slated to earn $3 million this season.