Looking at the second half of the season, let’s take a moment to discuss who should be the Most Valuable Player for the Cleveland Browns.
With the 2020 NFL season finding its way into the latter half, the Cleveland Browns should start taking the tally of who their Most Valuable Player, or MVP for short, will most likely be as they gear up for their final seven games. The Browns are looking to have one of their best seasons in recent memory, and if they play up to par, their first winning season since 2007. The way they’ll be lead to that winning season is if they allow their key player, their Most Valuable Players, to do what they do best.
The 2020 Cleveland Browns roster is pretty stacked when you look at it. With no shortage of rushing and receiving talent, the Browns also boast a talented quarterback and several talented defensive players who’ve been key to the success that the Browns have seen this year. So that raises the question: Who on the Browns roster deserves the title of MVP as the season stands so far?
With the season only just half over, it’s too early to call a dedicated and true MVP, so we have to add a small caveat to this. Let’s break it down into the three following categories; Midseason Offensive MVP, Midseason Defensive MVP, and Midseason Overall MVP. This way, we can look at the best of both sides of the Browns and also see who currently stands out heads above the whole team.
This is based on compared statistics, dynamic playmaking, and projections for the second half of the season. With all of that in mind, let’s jump into it and see who the Midseason Offensive MVP is as it currently stands.
Offense – Nick Chubb, RB #24
Choosing the offensive MVP was a tough choice. Plenty of the Browns’ offense has a claim to this at this point in the season. You could make arguments for Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, or even Harrison Bryant. The tough choice came down to looking at the two powerhouses that are putting in the work for this Browns rushing offense, being Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb.
The reason that Chubb stands out over Hunt is his sheer determination and unwillingness to crumble to opposing defenses. Overall career rushing yards for Chubb stand at 2,951, which is only 12 yards behind Hunt, who has a year of pro experience over Chubb. Chubb also averages 5.2 yards per carry, which is a half-yard more than Hunt, who has played 4 more games this season than Chubb and 58 more carry attempts.
Yes, Chubb is only sitting at 461 yards so far this season, a whole 172 yards less than Hunt, but Chubb has the opportunity to make up for that in the second half of the season. Another reason Chubb stands above is his 5 touchdowns in comparison to Hunt’s total of 3 this season. Kareem Hunt is not a slouch by any means, but Nick Chubb is a dynamic playmaker and a juggernaut of a running back. If Chubb continues to play the way he is, he could easily become the Browns’ Most Valuable Player for the 2020 season.
Defense – Denzel Ward, CB #21
The 23-year-old Denzel Ward is doing a bang-up job at the corner spot this year. The young man has racked up quite a stat block for the first half of this season, and I’d wager a guess that he will continue to perform up to the task as the season steamrolls into the latter half. Ward is quick on his feet, quick to the cut, and sticks to his coverage like glue, so it’s no wonder that he takes the title of Midseason Defensive MVP.
Ward has racked up an impressive 35 tackles this season, 29 of which were solo, and is tied for 5th in the league in passes defended at 11. He also boasts 1 interception and 1 forced fumble so far this year as well, so it is safe to say that Ward is putting in the work for the Browns’ defense this year.
Ward’s sharp feet and agility are a key factor for the Browns’ passing coverage and making sure that their defense is able to keep up and shut down opposing offenses, and has contributed greatly to the Brown’s current success this season. Ward can continue to serve as a building block for the Browns and is only going to get better as he matures and gains experience in the league.
Overall – Myles Garrett, DE #95
This should not come as a shocker to anyone, as Myles Garrett has far and above proven himself to be the standout of the 2020 Browns team. Garret has pretty much carried the defense so far this year and has done so spectacularly. When Myles Garrett steps on the field, offenses should be scared. He is an unstoppable force, seemingly like a category 5 hurricane that specifically targets offenses.
So starting with his stats, Garrett boasts an absolutely incredible 9.5 sacks, 5 of which were strip sacks, 31 tackles, 1 defended pass, and 2 fumble recoveries. Let’s mention the fact that Garrett went on a 5-game sack streak, is leading the league in sacks, and tied for leading the league in forced fumbles. Myles Garrett has no issues putting pressure on offenses and making sure quarterbacks keep their heads on swivels.
If Myles Garrett plays at the rate he is playing, there is no doubt that he will claim the title of Browns MVP, but you could even make the claim for him to be the NFL Most Valuable Player as well. Garrett should be on everyone’s radar for the second half of the season, as he is bound to make a bigger impact and lead the Browns to even more victories. So for those reasons, Myles Garrett is the Cleveland Browns Overall Midseason MVP.
The Cleveland Browns aren’t slouching this season. They have a dynamic roster and tons of young talent that could be leading them to their first playoff appearance since 2002. If players like Chubb, Ward, and Garrett continue to dominate their roles, we might just witness history in ending the longest active playoff drought. Fingers crossed.