Browns: 3 positions that could carry the team in 2021

Quarterback

Yup. Baker Mayfield has had two great years and one down year so far. It’s only three years, but it’s pretty clear the Browns see Mayfield as their starter going forward. After all, look at Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen. Both men have already made new teams home. If Mayfield was bad, he wouldn’t still be a Browns’ player. The idea that Mayfield isn’t the team’s starter for the foreseeable future is laughable. He clearly is.

He led the team to the playoffs in 2020 and did so in some of the worst games, weather-wise, that Cleveland has ever seen. Not just that, but he did so with a rotation of injuries to his offensive line, a crop of receivers that couldn’t stay healthy, and a deadly virus that caused several of his teammates to sit out the year.

All while on his fourth head coach and his third offensive system.

He gets constant grief from those in the media yet all he does is deliver. Yes, the 2019 season was marred by bad coaching but Mayfield still had a good-ish year, as far as former Browns quarterbacks are concerned. One could argue that his 2019 season was still a Top 25 season in franchise history here in Cleveland.

Not exactly the most ringing endorsement but the point stands; the Browns have had far worse than Mayfield in 2019.

As far as the backups go, not putting a lot of stock in Case Keenum isn’t a bad thing. He’s had just one good season in his entire career. He couldn’t do the same things Mayfield can, and has survived in the league as long as he has due to his ability to avoid too many costly turnovers. He can’t win you games like Mayfield can but he can make sure you don’t lose any.

If Mayfield gets hurt or is forced to miss time for some reason, Keenum can at least navigate you through games. You won’t have any impressive outings like Mayfield had in the home matchup against Baltimore but he might be able to do just enough to get you past a team, as long as you rush the ball like madmen.