The Browns have five backup players who could break out in 2021.
Top to bottom, the Browns team heading into 2021 has a lot of talent. Granted, they’re more loaded at corner, guard, tight end, and receiver than say linebacker, but they have a lot of talent nonetheless. The Browns have five key guys who could have big years in 2021 if they end up in the right situation due to injury or poor play ahead of them.
Now, each of these five guys isn’t just backing up on the depth chart but could also be names that don’t make the roster this year either. All five names could be cut, traded, start or land as backups for the whole year and see very little playing time. They’re all players who are far from guarantees to be on the team come Week 18.
That doesn’t mean they will, or won’t be on the team once camp breaks, nor does it mean they couldn’t still make the practice roster if cut, but each of these five guys are in bizarre circumstances. They’re all vying for a spot with younger talent, while also serving as a potential bridge for the guys ahead of them, many of whom have had injury issues.
So it’s going to be a very interesting training camp and some guys fans want on the team won’t make it. Yet, these five guys may not just make the team but have massive seasons as well.
WR Rashard Higgins
KhaDarel Hodge could easily take this spot from Rashard Higgins if things go that way. Higgins is listed by ESPN as being the Browns’ third receiver but he could see a lot more reps or a lot fewer reps depending on injuries, formations, and the focus on the offense. He had a nice year in 2020, a year he wouldn’t have had if Odell Beckham Jr. was healthy.
Since Beckham is always hurt, Higgins should get an opportunity to highlight his skills. While he plays more like Jarvis Landry than Beckham and could make the offense less palpable because of that, Higgins has shown to be on the same page with Baker Mayfield maybe more than any other receiver.
He may not be more talented but he could step up and have a big season should opportunities arise. That would be great for the Browns, especially considering that Beckham and Landry have had injury issues as of late that have affected their play on a significant level.
Hodge is another player in the same mold as Higgins, just without the chemistry with Mayfield. So he could easily find himself in the slot. Same with Donovan Peoples-Jones. The Browns are deep at receiver but expect a name or two to get cut during camp.
TE David Njoku
David Njoku is going to be on these lists a lot until he’s not on the Browns anymore. Ever since the Browns drafted Harrison Bryant and signed Austin Hooper, the Browns career of Njoku has been in limbo. Every week it feels like he’s going to get traded, get released, re-sign, have a career day or fall off completely. It all depends on the day. So while Njoku may need a big season to remain a member of the Browns, if that’s even possible at this point, Njoku is also someone who could have a huge year.
Bryant and Hooper had injuries last year, while Hooper underperformed as well. If Njoku breaks camp still a Browns player, he may have the opportunity to really highlight his skill set, especially if Baker Mayfield and the passing game continue to take steps in the right direction.
Having a vertical threat that can block is a great asset. He’s not the best blocker of the tight ends, in fact, he’s the worst but he’s still better than most of the NFL in that regard. He’s got a big body and is super strong which will help him finding reps and opportunities.
That is of course if the Browns opt to retain him. The team is going to have to make a lot of big decisions this year with regard to personnel.
OG Michael Dunn
As a proud fan of the Seattle Dragons (though my heart was always with the St. Louis Battlehawks), Michael Dunn was someone I watched a lot of during the heyday of the XFL. Those were the days, way back in the far-away time of 2020. The Dragons were one of the least impressive teams in the XFL but did have some standout guys like linebacker Steven Johnson and wide receiver Austin Proehl.
Dunn was one of the guys that really stood out in the Dragons games, and when the Browns snagged him up in time for their game against Pittsburgh in the playoffs, it wasn’t too surprising to see Dunn do the same thing against Pittsburgh that he was doing in the XFL.
Should any injuries befall the Browns at guard, Dunn and Blake Hance should be the first ones up to replace them. Dunn especially. While Hance was very good in 2020 in limited play, Dunn has a deeper filmography than Hance. He’s also shown to be better against the pass than Hance as well. That’s not a slight against Hance, just an acknowledgment that Dunn is better than people may realize.
CB Greedy Williams
Of all the players on this list who are a backup, Greedy Williams may surprise the most. Right now, that’s what he is, or at least should be. He struggled in his only year of play and couldn’t even get on the field in 2020. Those are two big reasons why he’s the fourth cornerback at best right now. If he’s able to hold up and can improve upon a lackluster 2019 campaign, maybe Williams can get greedy and wrangle away a starting spot for himself.
Williams could also be used as trade bait, alongside another player or draft picks in trading for another cornerback like Stephon Gilmore. It really feels like these five guys are trying out for The Expendables because that’s how they kinda come off.
Though, for a better version of The Expendables, watch The Losers. It’s great.
Williams is someone who could be really interesting if he’s able to step up and perform. He’s got a good wingspan, which isn’t necessary but helpful when you’re trying to swat balls away from players. He’s got the size (height/weight) to bully a lot of receivers off the line and he’s someone who’s young, and cheap.
Makes it easier to re-sign guys when you have players on rookie deals. So the hope is that Williams outplays his contract tenfold his year.
DE Porter Gustin
As mentioned above, every player on this list could either start, get traded, get cut, or make the team as a backup. It’s quite perplexing the depth of possibility that surrounds these five men. Port Gustin is no different here. The defensive end was a backup last year who was thrust into the starting spot on several occasions but never really had an impact against the passing game. He did show up against the running attack and was a good fit in that regard, but the Browns went out and signed a new star defensive end while signing another to play his backup.
Gustin has to make the team before anything happens and that in itself has become a tough go. Should Gustin make the team, his skills against the run should help him stand out. With the injury histories of Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett, Gustin will get time to play. Hopefully, he’s properly motivated because he could be an asset, especially if he’s been practicing and training like he needs to.
It’s a big mountain for him to climb, just to even get in a rotation at defensive end, but should he be able to, then he may just step up in a way people haven’t really expected him to. Especially if the talent around him truly is better.