Browns: PFF names 7 from the 2020 season in their top 101 players

The Cleveland Browns saw seven of their players reach the Pro Football Focus Top 101 players list of 2020, an encouraging sign for the future.

As the Cleveland Browns ready for the 2020 NFL offseason, scouring over free agents, and scouting potential draftees, the team should be happy to know that the larger football world is aware of what they pulled off in 2020.

We already talked about how Baker Mayfield (45th overall) had what Pro Football Focus believed was the 8th best season by a quarterback in 2020, and was in the top 101 players in the 2020 season but he wasn’t the only player to be honored with such accolades. He was joined by Wyatt Teller (18th), Myles Garrett (43rd), Joel Bitonio (46th), Jarvis Landry (58th), Jack Conklin (62nd), and J.C. Tretter (80th).

Of all the players, only Conklin returned from the 2019 season where he ranked 80th.

While some may scoff at PFF, which is your right, just keep in mind they are one of many who have complimented the Browns 2020. More so than that, each player were names we here at Factory of Sadness were constantly praising. Not only that, but each name was validated by being on this list.

Remember, that Teller wasn’t a player anyone knew would start. We knew he’d compete for the position in training camp, but there was a push, even by us, to go get another guard. Teller came in and exceeded expectations tenfold.

Garrett of course came off of that image-damaging 2019 season and had a lot to prove. While he wasn’t always the best pass rusher in every game he was in for 2020, he played far better than in previous years and really earned a spot among the league’s best in pass rushing.

Mayfield had the most to prove, who went from being the rightful 2018 Rookie of the Year, to a very disappointing 2019 season. 2020 was a big year for him, and he made sure to deliver. The longer the season went on, the better he played, especially against better teams. Many are still shy about proclaiming him an elite quarterback but 2021 will prove that one way or another.

For Bitonio, he was constantly the best guard in the NFL but only recently got noticed for it. Now he’s being properly identified. Jarvis Landry had a rough first half due to his hip surgery but as the season wore on, he became more and more comfortable on the field and returned to form.

Conklin is arguably a top-five tackle in the NFL at this point, and Tretter has proven to be a consistent force in the middle his whole career.

Seeing these guys get honored is a great thing.