The Cleveland Browns boast Austin Hooper, Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr, Kareem Hunt, Baker Mayfield, and Nick Chubb; three of them may have huge seasons.
The Cleveland Browns have not had a good….30 years of pro football. Since the end of the Bernie Kozar led Browns of the 1980s, the Browns have not been very good. Not just record-wise, but overall reputation-wise. The team hasn’t had any major players offensively, for more than one season anyway, besides Joe Thomas. Yet, that’s not the case for these 2020 Browns. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is poised for a huge 2020 after having a really solid, but not great, career to date. Free agents have been brought in like Jack Conklin and Austin Hooper to fortify not just the ground game but the passing game as well. Then of course you have Jarvis Landy, Odell Beckham, Nick Chubb, and Kareem Hunt-type players.
This is in stark contrast to other years. Years that were less kind and far more harsh to the team and fans. Years stuck watching has-beens and do-nothings. Yes, you had the occasional flash but that’s all it was.
Sure you had the Braylon Edwards, Peyton Hillis, Derek Anderson, and Kellen Winslow types, but no one shattered the league, broke records, or was even a building block piece to hang your hat on. They’ve been bad in having consistency at their top positions. Not just that, but the hype trains have ended so badly. Sure, Brady Quinn and Johnny Manziel were everyone’s pre-season picks to be gods of the Muni Lot, but they fell apart. Even talent the team thought was good, your Trent Richardsons and Terrelle Pryor’s fell off after leaving. Making them far more horror than hype.
2020 will be different though. There are tested talent, in their prime. Yet, only three of these names made the list, so which three players are poised for the biggest season of 2020?
Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield is the first quarterback the Cleveland Browns have had that has been worth a damn since 1999. He’s the only quarterback since Brian Sipe to throw 20 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons and has won more games across two seasons than any Browns quarterback not named Derek Anderson.
He has to prove that he’s the guy for the Browns in 2020. Not just for himself, and the team. He’ll more than likely get a fourth year regardless of this season, but to ease the disdain from the media and fans alike he has to improve.
The sad truth regarding modern sports fans. No one is given time to grow. Mayfield needs to silence the critics in 2020 and that’s not up for debate. Otherwise, he’ll be maligned and mocked all offseason, and while Mayfield did a great job blocking the noise out in 2020, who knows what he’ll be like confidence-wise after a bad season. He may feel the need to reply if this season gets away from him.
That’s why Mayfield has to have a big season. For a quarterback so connected to his confidence, if Mayfield struggles it could get ugly both on-field and off. The team is in such good shape, however, that Mayfield should be the first Browns quarterback to throw for more than 30 touchdowns in a season in franchise history.
The system he’s in will surely benefit Mayfield’s skill set. He likes over the middle stuff, and if he’s back to his old accurate ways, can make a meal out of the crossing routes and dumping stuff into the hands of his waiting tight ends.
If the rushing game is as potent this year as last, safeties will need to cheat and come down to help the rushing attack, allowing for more one-on-one options on the boundaries. Mayfield does have good arm-strength, so he should be able to drop passes into their awaiting arms with relative ease.
Mayfield is out of excuses for why he doesn’t have a great year. That’s why he’s going to have one. The pressure is on and he’s historically done well when the heat is on high.
Nick Chubb
Rushing title anyone? There is no doubt in the minds of many that if the offensive line is in fact improved, that Nick Chubb can’t have a real shot at the rushing title. Chubb is one of the best pure rushers in the NFL, if not the purest and most dynamic period. Chubb had arguably a worse offensive line than Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliot but is more consistent and a better runner than the Pro Bowl Cowboy.
In a system that will be more reliant on the rushing attack than it was at any point within the last decade, arguably, Chubb will see his carries leap up to a career-high. Hopefully. If he can maintain that career 5.0 yards a carry than Chubb could crack 1,500 yards easily and possibly run away with the rushing title before the season’s finale few games.
Having Kareem Hunt take some of the load off may hinder his chances for the rushing title, as he’ll take away needed carries. Yet, there’s a strong chance that Hunt subbing in won’t affect Chubb at all. One, Hunt will be used more as a pass-catching back than anything; the one area Chubb isn’t stellar at. He’ll also be able to spell Chubb long enough to get his wind back, while hopefully being able to rest his legs long enough to still have that pop he’s known for.
Chubb more or less needs a career year. Stefanski is going to rely on the rushing game in 2020 to help Baker Mayfield find his grove. So if Chubb hits a wall, gets hurt, or worse yet, the offensive line can’t open up holes, than not only will Chubb suffer but the offense, in general, will too.
Austin Hooper
With injuries to Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry, and no real depth behind them to look at, the odds that tight end Austin Hooper gets targeted more in 2020 than he did in Atlanta is entirely possible. Hopper, while splitting receptions from Devonta Freeman and Julio Jones was still able to net over 70 receptions the last two seasons. While it’s likely that Landry and Beckham stay healthy through 2020, it’s no guarantee. Making his addition all the much more needed and necessary.
There’s also the idea that both wideouts will play fewer snaps than in previous years, at least to start the season so both receivers can adjust as needed. That would allow Hooper to be the primary target a few more times than usual. While he’s not the most athletic tight end and he isn’t one to stretch the field, due to quarterback Baker Mayfield’s love of throwing over the middle, and head coach Kevin Stefanski’s desire to implement more play-action passing, Hopper could have huge numbers in this offense.
A third straight trip to the Pro Bowl is more than likely with this offense. This year’s team will feature less passing attempts than with former head coach Freddie Kitchens and will rely on the running game more than before. That actually benefits Hooper, as the team will use more play-action, which usually targets tight ends slanting down the middle of the field. They’ll be easy passes to make and assuming Mayfield can still be as accurate as he once was, then perhaps both players can set new career highs in the 2020 season.