Browns: 5 players who need big seasons in 2021
By Chad Porto
Jedrick Wills
A lot of fans get hurt when Jedrick Wills is criticized but they shouldn’t be. He had a fine, albeit lackluster season. Made worse by the fact that most of the players that outplayed him from the same draft class came after the Browns made their pick. That isn’t to say Wills is going to be trash, as he’s already an upgrade over the guy he replaced.
That doesn’t mean that Wills can continue to coast off of what he did his rookie year. If he plays like that over the next three seasons, not only should Wills not get an extension, but declining his fifth-year option would be a must. The Browns offensive line is going to look radically different in three years from now. By the time 2024 is here, guys like Joel Bitonio and J.C. Tretter will likely be retired or released. Jack Conklin may opt-out and leave Cleveland in 2023. Who knows if Wyatt Teller is even going to get another contract in Cleveland, let alone play as well in 2021 as he did in 2020.
The team will need to keep their options open long-term. If Wills can step up and dominate like he’s supposed to as a Top-10 pick and become the next Joe Thomas and not the next Robert Gallery, then he’ll make life for the Browns so much easier. He’s got to show immense progress in season two.
We’re pulling for him.