There’s a lot of talent to like on the Cleveland Browns heading into 2022 training camp, but there’s also a lot of questions that need to be answered and players who need to make good on their potential if Kevin Stefanski’s team is really to make a push in the AFC North.
If you’re the Browns, the biggest worry is Deshaun Watson because he’s facing a suspension and if he doesn’t play, the play at quarterback obviously diminishes. I’m not including him here, because if he plays, from a football stand point, he should be fine.
If he doesn’t, we all know what we’re getting from Jacoby Brissett. No, Baker Mayfield won’t be taking snaps in a Browns helmet in 2022.
Anyway, the Browns do have talent and should contend for a playoff spot if Watson is under center. That said there are five players in particular who I’m worried about heading into training camp.
1. Cleveland Browns LT Jedrick Wills
Wills heads into his third season and there are still questions as to whether he can be the long-term answer at left tackle.
It may not be the most popular choice, but Pro Football Focus offers a way to evaluate lineman through their grading system. Wills finished 2021 with a mark of 61.5, which ranked 71st among qualified lineman. For a second-year top-10 pick, definitely not optimal.
Wills showed some promise as a rookie, but got injured early in 2021 (ankle). Perhaps it lingered and impacted his play. He missed four games because of it.
Wills will be forever compared to Bucs right tackle Tristan Wirfs, whom Cleveland passed on to take Wills with the 10th pick. Wills moved from right tackle to left tackle, while the Bucs flipped Wirfs from left to right.
Wills becomes extension eligible after this season. If the Brown are to act next offseason, Wills will have to give them a reason.
2. Cleveland Browns S Ronnie Harrison
Surprised Ronnie Harrison is back in 2022 because the eye test would indicate he didn’t do much other than get flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, most notably, shoving a Chiefs’ coach in the season opener.
It looked like Harrison had booked his ticket out of town after Stefanski sat him out of Cleveland’s Week 11 contest against the Lions for an undisclosed disciplinary reason. Harrison went on to miss the final five games due to COVID/ankle issues.
When the Browns let M.J. Stewart walk in free agency, it became clear retaining Harrison would be a need.
And while his stock is down, it could rebound in 2022. Grant Delpit and John Johnson III will likely start. The Browns like to run the three-safety scheme and Harrison’s experienced in it.
That said, his decline in his second season as a Brown has to worry his most ardent supporters.
3. Cleveland Browns RB Kareem Hunt
The Cleveland Browns offense went out of whack in 2021 and while a light was cast over inadequate quarterback play, lining up without Kareem Hunt didn’t help.
The veteran back missed 11 games last season, meaning the Browns and Baker didn’t have that safety valve they could throw screens to, who was capable of picking up big chunks of yards.
Now, he’s back in a contract year. There’s internet rumblings of Hunt being traded, which is absurd. He’s an explosive player who offers something Chubb doesn’t in his ability to hit a home run in the passing game. It’s not that Chubb can’t do it, but I’d argue Hunt is more likely to get it done.
Unfortunately, Stefanski has never really figured out how to scheme up a way to put Hunt and Chubb on the field at the same time in a way that confounds opposing defenses. COVID was the reason in 2020 and Hunt’s injury last year, although before the injury, and it didn’t look like the coach was willing to give it much of a try.
4. Cleveland Browns K Cade York
We’re all excited to have Cade York, but don’t tell me you’re not slightly worried. The Browns cleaned house, assuring York will start the year as the team’s kicker. No competitions. No pressure. Here’s the job, don’t blow it.
My reason for concern is something York can do nothing about–his rookie status. He was a highly decorated player coming out of LSU, but don’t forget, so was Zane Gonzalez. York was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s best kicker. Gonzalez actually won the thing back in 2016.
I guess my point is that there are going to be growing pains with York. He could be Phil Dawson from Week 1, but it’s wishful thinking.
As for Gonzalez, it’s not like he was so bad that he’s out of the league. He just so happens to be Carolina’s kicker, the team the Browns play in Week 1.
5. Cleveland Browns WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
Wide receiver will be something fans watch all season as the team wasn’t able to draft a pass catcher in the first round after trading the pick as part of the package for Watson.
Instead, the Browns made the trade for Amari Cooper. Cooper may not be regarded as a true No. 1 any longer, but that’s what he is for the Browns.
That means the Browns really need Donovan Peoples-Jones to progress into the No. 2 role this season. Anthony Schwartz is fun to talk about, but he’s still a developmental player. David Bell is a promising rookie, but is probably going to make more of an impact as someone who goes over the middle, rather than hitting the home run.
DPJ was the star of 2021 training camp, but was just OK during the season. Perhaps the play of the quarterback was a reason for this.
I try to remind myself DPJ was sixth-round pick. He’s not going to lead the league in receiving. He doesn’t need to. But can he make more impact plays that he did a season ago? The potential is certainly there.