The Cleveland Browns could see a few first-time Pro Bowlers in 2020.
When most people think about the Cleveland Browns and the notion of Pro Bowlers, many go to Joel Bitonio, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett, and Denzel Ward. All four men are always likely to end up back in the year-end All-Star game, simply because of their pedigree. Yet, are there any players on this current roster looking at their first Pro Bowl trip in 2020?
Frankly, there are a few.
While someone like Odell Beckham could always find another trip to the Pro Bowl, the fact is even if he did go, it would be his first trip as a member of the Cleveland Browns, not the first of his career. Jedrick Wills is also a name many believe could end up as a Pro Bowler, but the odds aren’t in his favor as he’s a rookie learning a new playbook and a new position with limited practice time to do get his barrings.
Defensively Karl Joseph, Greedy Williams, and Larry Ogunjobi could all find their way to the Pro Bowl assuming things break just right for them. They’re all fringe players who could either be Pro Bowlers or on a new team in 2021. They aren’t the likeliest bunch but have shown to be good enough to do some real damage if they can be consistent.
So if none of the names alluded to made the list of the likeliest first-time Pro Bowlers, who did? Well, let’s dive right on in and find out.
Mack Wilson – LB
Mack Wilson is being keyed as many as the de facto replacement for Joe Schobert and Christian Kirksey, the two recently departed stalwarts in the middle of the defense. Wilson may not move over to the middle of the defense but is the likeliest of the four names often mentioned to start at linebacker. The other three being B.J. Goodson, Sione Takitaki, and rookie Jacob Phillips. Wilson, however, started as a rookie at linebacker, put in some impressive outings, and is the only returning full-time starter of the four.
With a hopefully much improved defensive line, Wilson may be able to avoid the issues that plagued Schobert and Kirksey during their tenure with the Browns; a weak front-four that caused a lot of problems for the linebackers. If the interior group is improved, then Wilson may be able to benefit in ways Schobert and Kirksey weren’t able to, namely with having offensive guards kept off of them on rushing downs.
Wilson showed a Schobert-like nose for the ball and could put up similar numbers (hopefully) to Schobert if Wilson becomes the primary linebacker on the field like his predecessor was. That’s still an “if” situation, but a very good possibility.
With Wilson, the big question is going to be how he handles the pass defense, something Schobert was stellar against. If Wilson can even be good enough to be on the field against offenses in passing situations, Wilson may be able to replicate the Pro Bowl success of Schobert and earn his own trip to the pre-Super Bowl event.
Baker Mayfield – QB
Baker Mayfield is in a situation where many believe this season is a make or break moment for the third-year quarterback out of Oklahoma. If Mayfield does in fact “make it” this season, that’s very likely going to lead to a Pro Bowl season for the former No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. The notion that he could be a Pro Bowler in year-three isn’t at all unlikely nor hard to fathom, after all in his rookie year he set numerous records. He has the talent needed.
For Mayfield, part of the equation will involve the health of his wide receivers. With Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. both recovering from offseason surgeries, and Beckham being plagued by injuries during the last four years, their health will be a big factor for Mayfield’s success. If the position was deeper with talent, then they wouldn’t be as necessary but because there’s no one really past them, the team needs to ensure they’re healthy-ish all year.
Luckily for Mayfield, Jack Conklin and Austin Hooper were brought in during free agency and Jedrick Wills acquired in the NFL Draft. All three men will help with blocking, but Hooper will also become a reliable target for Mayfield. Having served several years with Matt Ryan down in Atalanta, Hooper is used to accurate passers and Mayfield is one of the best when he’s able to plant his feet.
While it may seem outlandish as a Browns fan to even say this, Mayfield hitting 30 TD’s this year is possible. Considering Mayfield’s the only quarterback since Brian Sipe to toss two-back-to-back seasons of 20 TD’s, it’s entirely possible that a motivated, in shape, and upright Mayfield can hit that number. Also considering the AFC quarterbacks are all pretty old and haggard, Mayfield could find himself going to the Pro Bowl alongside in-division rival Lamar Jackson.
Jack Conklin – OT
Jack Conklin was an All-Pro as a rookie but he never saw the Pro Bowl. He was a big addition to the Cleveland Browns and should be a stalwart for the team going forward, assuming he can stay consistent after leaving the Titans. He’ll have to deal with a big question mark for a while in the play of his guard-mate, Wyatt Teller, however. Teller is expected to start next to Conklin on the line but that particular spot is one of much debate over the offseason. Many Browns fans and insiders see it as the biggest offensive weakness, besides receiver depth. If Teller becomes a liability, how will that affect Conklin’s play?
Conklin may also find himself shuffled around some this season. The Cleveland Browns are focused on getting rookie Jedrick Wills ready for the start of the season, who’s learning a new position (a former right-tackle) and a new playbook. He’s also doing this during a pandemic that negated a lot of off-season practices. Wills may simply not be ready to start this year. While there isn’t much discussion about it publically or otherwise, the fact is Conklin is a candidate to start at left tackle if Wills or whoever isn’t able to.
Something similar between 2001 and 2002, where left guard Ross Verba was moved to left tackle after a string of inconsistent options were marched out.
Conklin’s presence on the line though, no matter where, will be one that’s needed, especially with protecting Baker Mayfield. After a season of just awful line-play from just about all parties involved, someone like Conklin can bring a real presence and makeover the squad. He, Wills, guard Joel Bitonio, and center J.C. Tretter could be part of the best unit in the NFL, and should the line return to the form it once had in 2007, then that will largely be due to Conklin stepping up beyond his expectations.
Either as an unexpected left tackle to fill in for Wills or as a right tackle where he helps Teller cover up some inconsistency issues. Either way, both scenarios see him earning a Pro Bowl, as long as he plays as he did in 2019.