Browns Season In Review/ Offseason Preview

By: Mike Rifkin

The 2021 Cleveland Browns were one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL. After going 11-5 in 2020 and being competitive with the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs the Browns took a step back by going 8-9 and missing the playoffs. 

In 2020 Baker Mayfield had a 62.8 completion percentage 3,563 yards 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. After that season there were people in the media who were talking about the Browns giving Mayfield a major extension, the Browns declined to do so and Mayfield will play this upcoming season on his fifth year option. In 2021 Mayfield posted a 60.5% completion percentage 3,010 yards 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 14 games. Mayfield was limited to 14 games due to a torn labrum. 2022 will be a make or break year for the Browns whether it’s for the Browns or some other team. 

In 2020 the Browns were third in the NFL in rushing and Nick Chubb had 1,067 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2021 Chubb was second in the NFL in rushing with 1,259 yards and eight touchdowns. Kareem Hunt added 386 yards and 5 touchdowns but was limited to 8 games due to calf and ankle injuries. The Browns were fourth in the NFL in rushing averaging 145.4 yards per game. 

The Browns will look somewhat different at receiver. During the season they released Odell Beckham Jr. who went on to win the Super Bowl with the Rams and they have given Jarvis Landry permission to seek a trade. But the Browns did trade for former first round pick Amari Cooper who in 2021 with the Cowboys posted 68 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. Four times in his career Cooper has posted over 1,000 yards. 2021 was a breakout season for Donovan Peoples-Jones who posted 34 catches for a career high and a team high 597 yards and three touchdowns. Cleveland also put the franchise tag on tight end David Njoku who had 36 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns in 2021. Even though Cleveland has added Cooper, watch them address receiver in free agency or through the draft. 

The Browns defense in 2021 was fifth in yards allowed allowing 311.5 yards per game, ninth in sacks with 43, and had a -3 turnover differential. The defense starts with Myles Garrett who was third in the NFL in sacks with 16.0. Garrett has posted 58.5 sacks since being the number one overall pick in 2017. Last offseason the Browns signed another former number one overall pick in Jadeveon Clowney to a one year contract to team up with Garrett. Clowney had nine sacks, a number he hadn’t reached since 2018. Former first round pick cornerback Denzel Ward and free agent addition safety John Johnson tied for the team lead with three interceptions each. 

The Browns have a little over 23.5 million dollars in cap space prior to the Cooper trade. Trading Jarvis Landry would open up some room, as would restructuring the contract of tight end Austin Hooper. 

Free agency

1. Sign a veteran quarterback : If the Browns are not sold on Mayfield they should bring someone in who can challenge him for the starting job. 
2. Sign Dante Fowler Jr : Jadeveon Clowney had nine sacks last season and will want to get paid big time. Fowler has moved around the league but did have five sacks for the Falcons last season. 
3. Re-sign Rashard Higgins : Higgins numbers went down significantly in 2021, whether that was because of Mayfield’s struggles or not remains to be seen. With Odell Beckham gone and Jarvis Landry potentially being traded, keeping a guy Mayfield is familiar with could help both parties. 

Draft

RD 1 (PK 13) : Treylon Burks Wide Receiver Arkansas :  I want to preface by saying if one of the two elite pass rushers are here they are the pick. Burks is a big, fast receiver who is dangerous in the open field and will be very helpful for Baker Mayfield. 

RD 2 (PK 44) : Nik Bonitto Edge Oklahoma : Quick Athletic edge opposite Myles Garrett which could help the undersized Bonitto. 

RD 3 (PK 78) Christian Harris  Linebacker Alabama : Pairing Harris with Jermiah Owusu – Koramoah would give the Browns an exciting linebacker duo with a lot of speed.

RD 3 (PK 101): Jalen Tolbert Receiver: South Alabama: Excellent route runner who can make plays in the middle of the field. If Landry is traded Tolbert could be an interesting option to replace him.