By: Michael Welsh

After some downtime, it has been a crazy week in the NFL. We saw Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz traded, Deshaun Watson rumors picked up, and on March 12th, The Browns traded for Dallas Cowboys wideout Amari Cooper. They only gave up a 5th and 6th round pick for the star pass catcher and a 6th round pick. Overall, I believe it was a major steal for the Browns.

Cleveland now has their WR #1 in Cooper as they look to revamp the offense from a weapons standpoint. This may lead to the end of the Jarvis Landry era in Cleveland, but at the end of the day, the NFL is a business. The addition of Cooper takes the offense to another level if he can remain healthy, and one can assume that Andrew Berry isn’t done with his aggressive moves. What does Cooper bring to the table?

For starters, Amari Cooper might be the best route runner in the league. This will bring a lot of structure to the Browns offense from a receiver standpoint. Odell Beckham Jr. did not work out in Cleveland for several reasons, but he was known as a freelancer on his routes, often looking for soft spots in the defense instead of running the route in the playbook. This caused countless miscommunications between him and quarterback Baker Mayfield. Cooper will be the exact opposite of that as he has a reputation for learning a playbook and sticking to it. This will help him get on the same page with Baker Mayfield, assuming he is the QB for Cleveland in 2022.

Cooper is only 27 years old as well, which means if he balls out for the Browns then he may land a long-term deal with them or another team in free agency. The trade is a win-win for both sides, which doesn’t always happen. Everywhere that Cooper has gone, he has produced good numbers, so there is a high probability that he produces well in Cleveland.

From a stats perspective, Amari Cooper has put up respectable numbers his entire career. In total, he has 517 receptions for 7,076 yards and 46 touchdowns, along with 3 Pro Bowl selections. He is going to bring elite playmaking skills to the Browns and help them take the top off of the defense. Last year he had more touchdown catches than the Browns wide receivers combined. That should give you an idea of how badly the team needs a player like him.

There is no telling what moves could happen for the Browns from here on out, but there is no doubt that trading for Amari Cooper is a big step in the right direction. Andrew Berry has been incredibly impressive as the Browns General Manager, relentlessly attacking the team’s weaknesses each off-season. Get your popcorn ready because he isn’t done yet.

The post What does Amari Cooper really bring to the Browns? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

Garrett Wilson

With the Los Angeles Rams winning Super Bowl LVI, we have officially entered the 2022 off-season in the NFL. There will be a lot of exciting moves with trades and free agency within the next few months, along with draft breakdowns after the NFL Combine in March. The Cleveland Browns need weapons, most notably a dynamic wide receiver. There will be plenty available at pick 13, and some believe that Garrett Wilson from Ohio State will be on the board. Let’s take a look at some of his strengths and weaknesses and if he would fit nicely in Cleveland.

Strengths

There isn’t a wide receiver prospect in this draft that is as good at ball tracking as Garrett Wilson. He just has a specific way of finding the ball in the air and making the play. That combined with his good hands make him a legit weapon at the pro level.

One things the Browns seemed to lack at critical times in 2021 was pass-catchers creating yards after the catch. It turns out one aspect of Wilson’s game is his great ability to create yards after the catch. This is so important and could be a game-changer for Baker Mayfield and the offense.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski loves screen plays. The offense often runs wide receiver screens fairly often, and this could increase even more if they draft Garrett Wilson. He is really good on screens and has a nice burst that can turn one yard into over ten in a blink of an eye.

Weaknesses

If there’s one area that Garrett Wilson must improve on at the pro level, its his route running. He isn’t terrible by any means, but there is plenty to work on. He lacks consistency in that area, but luckily good coaching can improve that quickly.

Wilson is 6′ 192 pounds. It isn’t a bad size, but for the Browns it might become an issue. Baker Mayfield has a tendency to overthrow his pass catchers, so this has caused a lot of fans to say they need more size in the receiver room. Truth be told, Wilson has a similar frame to Odell Beckham Jr, who we all know did not mesh well with Baker Mayfield. That doesn’t mean Wilson will follow in the same footsteps, but it is something to think about.

Cleveland needs a player that can stretch the field, and Wilson may not be that. He seems to fit more in a slot receiver role, which is totally fine, but if the Browns keep Jarvis Landry then that could get challenging. Wilson isn’t going to be a game-breaker like Ja’marr Chase or Justin Jefferson. So it will be interesting to see if he would be what Cleveland needs.

Overall Garrett Wilson would be a good pick for the Browns at 13. He doesn’t fit everything that they need and he isn’t as polished as some prospects from the last few years, but he would still elevate the offense. Picking him would depend on who is available and if Andrew Berry targets a big-framed wide receiver in free agency such as Mike Williams. Pairing Mike Williams with Garrett Wilson and then keeping Jarvis Landry in the slot would be a dynamic receiver room.

Ohio State has a way of producing very talented wide receivers, and for the 2022 draft, it is no different. In addition to Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave is a first-round prospect that the Browns might take a look at. Most mocks do not have him going as early as pick 13, but if Andrew Berry likes him enough then he might take him there or trade back to acquire more assets.

Chris Olave

Strengths

One could argue that Chris Olave is the most NFL-ready wide receiver in the draft. He is very fast and has fantastic route-running skills that help create separation. He is just one of those guys who always seems to be open. He is 6’1″ and 188 pounds, so he will need to bulk up a little bit at the pro level. But he is a Justin Jefferson type guy, just not as polished.

Olave is also pretty versatile. He can lineup in the slot or on the outside, which helps keep defenses on their toes. He also has the ability to create yards after the catch, which goes a long way. He is smaller but plays like a slightly bigger receiver at times.

Weaknesses

Like a lot of college-wide receivers, Christ Olave is not the best blocker. He will need to put on more muscle and learn to handle NFL defensive backs in the blocking game. His size will be a big hurdle in the pros.

Olave has played a lot of his college snaps against zone coverage, so he will have to improve against press coverage. His overall awareness and ability to read defenses from the wide receiver position will need to elevate in order to have consistent success.

Accolades

2021 first-team All-America

2021 first-team All-Big Ten

2020 first-team All-Big Ten

If Garrett Wilson is already off the board, Drake London is a great option that has many different traits that separate him from Wilson. Many consider London to be the first or second-best receiver option in the draft. What makes him that good of a prospect? Let’s take a look.

Drake London

Strengths

The most enticing thing about Drake London is his size. He stands tall at 6’5″ and is roughly 210 pounds. Another Thant David Njoku at Tight End, Baker Mayfield hasn’t ever had a receiver that tall in his NFL career. London is that guy to go up and make the contested catches while stretching the field. He has strong hands and can be savvy with route running. He also played basketball at USC, so his jumping ability is very good.

Oftentimes guys as tall as London are not elite at running after the catch. This is not the case for the USC star. He is more elusive than he looks and that is something that Cleveland desperately needs. Improving at the deep ball is something that has to happen in 2022 if the Browns want to have success. Drafting London would be a huge step in the right direction. He finished with 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns before missing time with an ankle injury.

Weaknesses

There honestly are not that many major weaknesses with Drake London. Many have concerns since he is coming off of an injury, but it is expected for him to be fully ready to go in 2022. Because of his size, he doesn’t move very quickly laterally. This is expected, but don’t expect him to make ten guys miss in open space. He is more likely to just run them over.

There have been reports that his blocking technique is below average. This is something that can be easily fixed, so it isn’t a major cause for concern. Doing the little things in the NFL is crucial to long-term success, so he will have to improve there.

Drake London would be an amazing option at pick 13 if he is still available. Having some size in the wide receiver room could go a long way, especially with someone as talented as London. Andrew Berry will have a very tough decision if both Drake London and Garrett Wilson are on the board.

Accolades

2021 first-team All-Pac 12

2021 AP third-team All-American

In the event that both Garrett Wilson and Drake London are taken before pick 13, the Browns will still have some good options to pick from. One of them is wide receiver Treylon Burks out of Arkansas. He is kind of a mix of Wilson and London, with his own unique traits.

Treylon Burks

Strengths

Much like Drake London, Treylon Burks has a big frame and great hands to make the tough catches. He is 6’3″ and 225 pounds and is overall a very complete athlete. He is very versatile and possesses big play ability. One of those throws the ball in his direction and he will catch it type of receivers.

Adding to his versatile traits, Arkansas used him at times in the backfield and on trick plays. Kevin Stefanski loves plays like that, so he could fit right into the offense. He has also returned punts and kicks, which is something Cleveland still hasn’t solidified. He finished the 2021 season with 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Weaknesses

One thing Burks has to work on at the pro level is perfecting the little things. At Arkansas, there were times when he would make small, mental mistakes. In the NFL, those small errors can have a massive impact. He will have to put his head down and really learn the playbook as well.

His route running needs some work. His breaks are not very smooth and he has the tendency to freelance on routes a bit. He also needs to work on his blocking and overall effort on plays where he is not targeted.

Treylon Burks is definitely not as polished as Drake London and Garrett Wilson, but he still has immense talent that could make him a true number one receiver in the NFL. The Browns would benefit from what he brings to the table.

Accolades

2021 first-team All-SEC

The post Top WR draft targets for the Cleveland Browns appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

It is no secret that the Browns struggled on offense during the 2021 season. The quarterback play was the reason for some of this, and the other main reason was the lack of explosiveness at the wide receiver position. Odell Beckham Jr forced his way out in the middle of the season. Jarvis Landry missed several games due to injury and never quite looked explosive. He has always been better as a slot receiver than a number one. Donovan Peoples-Jones had some big plays and did take a step forward, but he still isn’t ready to be a game-changing option. Rashard Higgins was a non factor and will most likely be on another team in 2022, and Anthony Schwartz proved to still need a lot of development. Overall, there are more questions than answers at the receiver position. The good news is that this is a good off-season to have problems in that area because there are several free agents and players in the draft that could change it all for the Browns. Let’s take a look at two players in the draft and two players in free agency that Andrew Berry needs to consider going after.

Draft – WR Drake London – USC

Cleveland picks at 13, and there should be a few good options there. One of the best ones is Drake London out of USC. He hauled in 88 catches for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2021. One of the most appealing things about London is his size. Standing tall at 6’5″ and 210 pounds, he could be a mismatch for NFL cornerbacks. He has strong hands, good route running skills, and is a big play threat. The Browns desperately need a player like that.

Draft – WR Garrett Wilson – Ohio State

If the Browns decided not to go with Drake London, Garrett Wilson would be another great option if he is still available. Perhaps a more sure thing than London, Wilson comes from Ohio State where WR coach Brian Hartline has a great reputation coaching up playmakers for the NFL level. Wilson had 70 catches for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns in the 2021 season. Standing at 6′ tall and 192 pounds, Wilson lacks the size London has, but he makes up for it with his quickness and yards-after-catch ability. His burst off the line and hands are fantastic and that should make his transition to the pro level easier. The biggest downsides with Wilson are the inconsistencies at his route running and his struggles against press coverage. Those issues are able to be fixed with coaching and experience, though. Andrew Berry will have a tough decision to make if Drake London and Garrett Wilson are both on the board at 13, but you can’t really go wrong with either of them.

Free Agency – WR Mike Williams – 2021 team, Los Angeles Chargers

For the record, the likelihood of receivers such as Davante Adams and Chris Godwin coming to Cleveland is extremely low. So let’s just pretend they’re not even free agents. This brings us to a fantastic option in Mike Williams. Coming off his second 1,000 yard season of his career, Williams can bring playmaking ability and a big bodied frame to an otherwise small Cleveland receiver room. The downside is that traditionally, spending big money on a free agent wide receiver in today’s NFL rarely works out. Williams would demand a contract at $16-17$ million a year. That is a pretty hefty price, so it’ll come down to how much money Andrew Berry wants to spend.

If Andrew Berry wants to go a slightly cheaper route while still getting a good receiver, DJ Chark Jr might be the way to go. He is another tall receiver, standing at 6″4″, and possess the ability to make contested catches. He didn’t see much action in 2021, but in 2020 he caught 53 passes for 706 cards and 5 touchdowns. There have been plenty of flashes, so signing him to a cheap, short term deal could be a good idea. He could be signed for anywhere from $10 million a year to $13 million, but I wouldn’t put it past Andrew Berry to get him for even cheaper.

The post Wide Receivers the Cleveland Browns should target this offseason appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

During the 2021 season, the Browns found themselves constantly coming up short and ultimately having a disappointing season. Through all of the bad, there were numerous bright spots, including some from players that need to be locked up in Cleveland long term. On the flip side, there were a few players that showed they may not be worth the money they’re making. First, let’s take a look at a few players that deserve contracts.

Jadeveon Clowney

Andrew Berry has made several excellent moves since being hired as the General Manager of the Browns in 2020. The signing of Jadeveon Clowney is arguably the best signing he’s done to date. Clowney had bounced around in the league since leaving the Houston Texans in 2018. He came to Cleveland with hope to earn a long term contract while playing on a one year prove-it deal. Needless to say, Clowney absolutely balled out for the Browns in 2021. He was, as usual, and elite run defender and he finished with 9 sacks, the most he has had since 2018. One of the most impressive things was that it was very noticeable when he wasn’t on the field. They felt like a different defense without him, and playing opposite of Myles Garrett definitely benefited his play. Having them play opposite of each other for years would make their defense even scarier. Andrew Berry needs to work to sign him to a 3 year deal for roughly $10 million a year.

David Njoku

It is no secret that Kevin Stefanski loves his tight ends. They are a big part of his offense, and David Njoku has only gotten better since Stefanski took over as the head coach. The box score stats will not blow you away, but “The Chief” is arguably the only mismatch Cleveland has on their roster right now and his athletic ability is truly remarkable. His career as a whole hasn’t been consistent, but he fits this offense and appears to be ready to take another step. He has always improved as a blocker, which was below average at when he came into the league. Njoku was the Browns leading receiver in 2021 finishing with 36 receptions for 475 yards and 4 touchdowns. Adding to all of that, Njoku said in a press conference that he loves Cleveland and wants to spend the rest of his career here. Make it happen, Andrew Berry.

The next section will be hard to read if you’re a die hard Browns fan. There are a few players that the Browns could move on from, save money, and give that money to the players mentioned above and others such as Denzel Ward. Below are two players that Andrew Berry should cut/trade in the 2022 offseason.

Jarvis Landry

Some would argue that the culture change started when Jarvis Landry was traded to Cleveland in 2018. His leadership is unmatched and he’s great for the locker room. There is no denying that. The issue is, his production just doesn’t line up with his hefty contract. In 2018-2020, Jarvis had good seasons, including two Pro Bowl selections. Regardless of that, he is still overpaid and coming off the worst year of his career in 2021, finishing with 52 receptions for 570 yards and only 2 touchdowns. He looks slower on the field and struggles to get separation. There is some hope that he will restructure his contract and stay in Cleveland, but he can be cut and save the Browns almost $15 million in cap space. We will see what happens, but it may be better to move on from him entirely.

Kareem Hunt

This could honestly go either way, but there is a chance that Kareem Hunt gets traded this offseason. He and Nick Chubb have been a great one-two punch the last few years, but Hunt missed substantial time in 2021 and third string running back D’Ernest Johnson picked up the slack and looked great as the primary and secondary running back. The Browns could trade him for draft capital and save $6.25 million in cap space. It does make sense to let him get healthy and play out his last year of his contract, but if Andrew Berry wants to make a move, he has a good option in Hunt. A lot of teams would immediately use the former rushing champion as their starter. Johnson would also need a contract in this scenario, so there are a lot of moving parts. It will be interesting to see what happens

The post Which players should the Browns keep and which players should they let walk? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

Quarterbacks are a touchy subject for Browns fans. After dozens and dozens of signal-callers since 1999, it seemed like Cleveland had finally found their franchise guy with Baker Mayfield in 2018. Truth be told, it has been an absolute roller coaster since Baker took over at quarterback. With a disappointing 2021 season, it may be time for the Browns, who have a Super Bowl contending roster, to look elsewhere for a quarterback. A lot of tough decisions are looming for General Manager Andrew Berry. So what should the Browns do about Baker Mayfield? There are many pros and cons to this situation and no easy answer.

Pros of Keeping Baker Mayfield

The most memorable thing Mayfield has done as the Browns QB takes them to the playoffs and gets their first playoff win since 1994. To make that even more satisfying for Cleveland fans, it was on the road against the hated Pittsburgh Steelers. Baker tossed three touchdowns in that game and continued his impressive stretch of playing like a top ten quarterback in the NFL. Baker also broke the rookie touchdown record in 2018, but that gets harder to talk about as an accomplishment since Justin Herbert broke it a few short years later. Either way, Baker has shown plenty of flashes of being a really good QB in this league. He makes top-tier throws and has a fire about him that draws players closer. The Browns had trouble winning any games before they drafted Baker. Since he has been drafted, they have won more and been relevant overall. That cannot be ignored, But is it enough? For many fans, it is not. At some point, another step has to be taken and many thought that would have happened this year. One pro of keeping Baker is that he is a cheaper option, with the Browns exercising his 5th-year option, and that he could return the best version of himself in 2022. He tore his labrum on his non-throwing shoulder in week two against the Texans and played extremely banged up all season. Many believe that his accuracy was off due to a harness that had to be worn during games. Andrew Berry may think that after Mayfield has surgery and gets back to 100%, then he will play at a higher level.

The cons of keeping Baker Mayfield

Unfortunately for Browns fans, Baker struggles with quite a bit and there are a decent amount of cons to keeping him. As mentioned earlier, he dealt with a torn labrum all season. That may have affected his accuracy, but there is no way to ignore that he made many awful decisions all season and was not fully seeing the field. This has been an issue for Baker since college. A few of his biggest critiques coming into the 2018 draft were field vision and happy feet in the pocket, which he still has in his fourth season. It is very alarming that he hasn’t progressed past those problems. In addition to those things, Baker (and the team as a whole) had an anti-clutch gene all of 2021. As a starter, Baker was 0-5 in potential game-winning drives in 2021. That is the difference between making the playoffs and missing them. Mayfield was also one of the worst QBs in the fourth quarter last season and overall only has 7 game-winning drives in his entire career. The biggest con to keeping Mayfield in 2022 is if this is who he is as a QB, then the Browns are potentially wasting another year of a great roster. This team is built to win now and they need a QB who elevates the play of those around him, not one who needs everything to be perfect for him to succeed. Baker has yet to be consistent in his career and with a record of 30-30 as a starter, the Browns would be committing to mediocrity at this point if they decided to keep him long term.

Where to go from here

There is no clear path on where to go from here. Andrew Berry has many tough decisions to make in the 2022 offseason, and what to do with Baker is at the top of the list. There are a few other QB options they could try to bring in, but they are limited overall. A trade for Derek Carr seems more likely than a trade for Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers. Jimmy Garoppolo is another name that has been mentioned, but he would not be a substantial upgrade. When you look at the potential options, it only makes the decision more difficult. Baker Mayfield will most likely be the starter in 2022, but it will without a doubt be his last chance to prove himself worthy of being a franchise QB. Part of the fanbase has lost patience with the inconsistencies and they understandably want to win now. We can all agree that the Cleveland Browns have endured enough losing in the last twenty years. 2022 will be the biggest year of Baker Mayfield’s career if he is the guy they chose to roll with. Get your popcorn ready.

The post Is Baker Mayfield really the face of the Browns franchise? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

The 2021 season has not gone as expected for the Cleveland Browns. The expectations coming into the season were division winners and Super Bowl Contenders. Despite the week one loss to the Chiefs, the Browns still appeared to be a team that would be reckoned with this season. That hasn’t been the case. They sit at 4-4 with a lot of questions moving forward. All hope isn’t lost, but adjustments must be made quickly. But before we dive into that, how did we get here?

From injuries to questionable play calling to not being able to close out games, there are multiple issues with the Browns at this point. It all began in week two against the Texans when Baker Mayfield made a tackle on defender Justin Reid after an interception. What appeared to be a dislocated shoulder turned into something much worse in the coming weeks. It was revealed that Mayfield has a completely torn labrum and an additional fracture in his non-throwing shoulder.

This isn’t an injury that will heal over time, Surgery is needed. Baker can play through the pain with a brace on, but as explained by analysts on several networks, it will affect how he plays this season because it is overall uncomfortable. Plus it clearly has messed with Baker’s mental state. There have been several injuries to the offensive line and it has made Baker appear jittery and bail out of clean pockets for fear of potentially taking a big hit. Because of this it is leading to even more issues, such as Baker not going through progressions, seeing the field, and missing open receivers. It is without a doubt costing the team points at times and possibly even wins. Despite all of this, Baker has done enough in certain games to come out with wins. But football is a team sport, and several key players are failing to do their jobs at critical moments. Plus the officiating has been atrocious, but that’s another story.

Both sides of the ball have lacked consistency this year. Joe Woods has been very puzzling on the defensive side of the ball, often failing to make any in game adjustments or dialing up any pressure. There is way too much talent on defense to be as inconsistent as they are. Reigning Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski hasn’t been bad by any means, but he’s had several struggles that we didn’t see in 2020. He is far too conservative at times, far too aggressive at going for it on fourth down, and some believe the play calling has become stale and predictable. The Browns are a run heavy team, but in 2020 we saw a lot of play action bootleg plays where Mayfield through the ball down the field. This year that is all but gone and instead we get countless screen passes a game and overall a boring offense. So what changed? The obvious assumption is that Stefanski is protecting Baker and his injury by drawing up simple plays that take no time to develop. Be that as it may, eventually you have to take some shots down the field. Baker used to be a gunslinger, taking risks and pushing the ball down the field. For better or worse, it seems that this coaching staff has killed that part of him because he seems terrified to make any mistakes. Of course you wanna be mistake free, but it is okay to let the ball rip from time to time. Opposing defenses aren’t respecting Cleveland’s passing game at all and they won’t anytime soon if nothing the changes. The truth is, wide receivers have never flourished in a Stefanski offense. Catches per game drop substantially for them and number one receivers are often decoys so other players can get open. A Stefanski team can be good overall, but top wide receivers aren’t game changers in his system. You just have to wonder if he makes some changes in his thought process as the season goes on.

Speaking of receivers not being a huge factor in a Stefanski offense, things have become tense with superstar Odell Beckham Jr and the Browns. The narrative that Baker and OBJ do not have chemistry has been well documented since 2019. Fans and analysts alike were optimistic that they would finally figure it out this season, but that hasn’t been the case. Beckham leads the team in targets at 34, but only has 17 receptions for 232 yards and no touchdowns. He is coming off the worst game in his career against the Steelers where he only had 1 catch for 6 yards. There is no one person to blame for OBJ not putting up numbers. Some of it comes back on him with slipping on routes, running the wrong routes, and dropping key passes. Some of it comes back on Baker Mayfield for not throwing him the ball when he’s open and being inaccurate with it half the time when he does pull the trigger. There have been multiple times this year where OBJ is open down the field, but Baker doesn’t see him and instead throws underneath or bails out of the pocket. Lastly, some of it falls on Stefanski and Alex Van Pelt for not drawing up plays for Beckham and not getting him involved early in the game. They all need to be better, period.

OBJ’s dad took to YouTube Tuesday morning with an 11 minute video showing that Beckham is open very often, but Baker fails to get him the ball, and then proceeded to bash the quarterback in the comment section. It got even more hectic when LeBron James tweeted out #FreeOBJ with his thoughts on the situation, and other athletes followed. It is a terrible look for your dad to take to social media to complain about the quarterback, even if he does have a point. It only divide the locker room and causes a distraction that will be dissected on every talk show for the coming days. Nonetheless. the trade deadline came and went and OBJ is still a member of the Browns, so this will be something they will have to deal with for the remainder of the season.

So where do the Browns go from here? Is this all fixable? The good news is that most of it is. At 4-4, the season is far from over and they could easily turn it around to make a playoff push. But it will not be easy. Stefanski and the coaching staff need to sit down and hash out the problems and start fixing them ASAP. There is way too much talent on this roster to be underperforming this bad. Baker needs to see the field and start making better decisions, including getting OBJ more involved early in the game. Execution is crucial in the NFL and that is something this team has struggled with. The players have to do their jobs and the rest will fall into place.

No one is sure what it is, but this team has an anti-clutch gene and they cannot close out games or come back to win one. Stefanski needs to keep the foot on the gas and bury teams, instead of letting up. There have been a few games this year, most notably the Chargers game in week 5, where Stefanski coached scared, even saying in the press conference that he made decisions at the end of the game because he was nervous to make a mistake. Coaching scared will never get you far in a season. Trust the players and talent you have. If you want to be a Super Bowl contender, you have to beat good teams. Unfortunately, the Browns cannot do that right now. It will be interesting to see how Stefanski pulls together the locker room with the drama that unfolded on Tuesday. In the coming weeks, we will learn a lot about this team and see what they’re made of. Hopefully they can come together instead of fall apart.

The post The state of the Cleveland Browns and where to go from here appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

It is not common for a team to hit on so many players in one draft that all contribute immediately. In the past, Cleveland would be drafting players in all rounds to be immediate starters. That wasn’t always the prettiest scene. This year the Browns arguably had the best draft in all of football, but everyone just needed to wait and see how it would play out on the field. The only team that comes close to the level of the production in Cleveland so far are the Chargers. Between the two, Cleveland gets the edge.

What Andrew Berry has done as the General Manager of the Browns in two years is nothing short of spectacular. He has addressed needs in both free agency and the draft with countless smart moves and has proved to be a rising star in the front office. In the 2021 draft, it was no secret Cleveland needed help in the secondary and at linebacker. Andrew Berry addressed both of those needs in the first and second round with Greg Newsome and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Where Berry has shined as well in his drafting has been identifying talent in the later rounds. Several picks from the 2021 draft have already been contributing at a high level in the young season.

Greg Newsome II – CB (1st round pick)

From day one, Greg Newsome was at the top of Andrew Berry’s draft board. The pick came in extremely quick once the Browns got on the clock, and before we knew it, Greg Newsome was in the brown and orange. In the first three games, Newsome has been incredibly impressive. He has a 70.1 Pro Football Focus grade and only 4 receptions allowed. In addition to that, he just hasn’t been targeted a lot so far due to such tight coverage week in and week out. Playing cornerback at the NFL level is one of the hardest positions, especially for a rookie. And Greg Newsome hasn’t looked like a rookie at all.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – LB (2nd round pick)

JOK was the pick that most Browns fans were excited about more than anyone else. He was projected to be a first round pick, but fell due to a rumored heart condition that has since been proven to be false. Andrew Berry wanted him so Cleveland traded up to get him in the second round. All he has done at the pro level is turn heads and play at an elite level each game. He is currently graded at 90.1 per Pro Football Focus, which leads all linebackers in the NFL. He has displayed next-level play recognition and pursuit on ball carriers. Browns fans should be very excited about him, he’s an All-Pro in the making. His versatility makes him a nightmare for opposing offenses.

Demetric Felton – RB/WR (6th round pick)

As mentioned earlier, Andrew Berry has shown that he finds talent in the later rounds. Demetric Felton caught his eye due to his explosiveness and versatility. In the pre-season, Felton was already making flashy plays left and right. During the regular season, he has picked up right where he left off, making multiple defenders miss on a wide receiver screen as he raced in for his first career touchdown. He has all the makings of a secret weapon that can make a real difference in a game. In addition to being an offensive weapon, he has looked great on kick and punt returns, which is encouraging since Cleveland has been looking for a weapon back there for years now. As he develops, he will only get better and better. He has an elite 92.5 grade from Pro Football Focus. Very impressive for a 6th round pick.

Anthony Schwartz – WR (3rd round pick)

Perhaps the player to most look like a rookie out of all of Andrew Berry’s draft picks, Anthony Schwartz has had a mix of good and bad moments thus far. In the opening game against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had 3 catches for 69 and a rush for 17 yards, really displaying his elite speed. The following week against the Texans, he looked more like a rookie stopping on a route that lead to a Baker Mayfield interception. Kevin Stefanski let him have it on the sideline. Other than that, Schwartz has shown promise and will likely take more time to develop. But his ability to stretch the field is very appealing to the Browns, who had issues doing that when Odell Beckham Jr went down with an injury last season.

The post The Browns have the best rookie class in football appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

We enter week 3 in the NFL this week and the Cleveland Browns sit at 1-1 on the season, tied for first place in the AFC North. After a sluggish win against the Texans in week two, Cleveland looks to bounce back for their first convincing win of the 2021 season.

Rookie Justin Fields will be making his first career start against the Browns on Sunday. There have been criticisms of how soft Joe Woods’ defense has looked, especially against the Texans in week two. There appears to be a lot of zone being played and just an overall conservative approach. There are a lot of new faces on defense, so maybe it is taking some time for them to gel. Either way, this game should be one where things look different on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s take a look at the winning formula for the Browns this week.

Pressure, pressure, pressure

It feels like the Browns have barely blitzed at all this season. In addition to that, the defensive line hasn’t gotten the pressure that most expected at this point. With a rookie quarterback under center, it will be crucial to put pressure on him multiple times throughout the game. Expect more safety blitzes from Grant Delpit, who had an impressive debut last week with one sack and one tackle for a loss. It’ll be important to rattle Fields early and force him to make mistakes. Joe Woods cannot be timid this week. Dial it up.

Hit a few big plays

After Baker Mayfield dislocated his shoulder last week, the play-calling from Kevin Stefanski became a lot more reserved in order to protect the injury. Jarvis Landry is out this week with an injury, but Odell Beckham Jr. is expected to make his season debut, and it would be wise to try and hit a few big plays with him early. If he does play, the Bears probably won’t expect anything dynamic right out of the gate, which is why hitting a double move early on could be beneficial. Aside from OBJ, don’t be surprised if rookie Demetric Felton gets more involved this week too.

Get a lead going into halftime

Momentum is huge in football games. Last week, the Browns went into halftime tied with the Texans. That is better than being down, of course, but it would be ideal if Cleveland has the lead at halftime. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt absolutely thrive in the second half, so having a lead means you can start feeding them the ball earlier. Plus it will be good for the team’s confidence as a whole to have a lead and then convincingly beat a team that is inferior.

Don’t give the ball away

In both games this season, the Browns have had multiple giveaways. Doing that each game will lead to more losses than victories, so they will have to clean it up against the Bears. No fumbles, no interceptions, just play mistake-free football. This is a game where Baker Mayfield needs multiple touchdowns and no interceptions, and everyone just needs to take care of the ball.

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The time has finally come… FOOTBALL IS BACK. Week one in the NFL should pack a lot of excitement and intriguing matchups, one being the Cleveland Browns taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Browns saw the Chiefs last in the Divisional Round of the playoffs in 2020, where they narrowly lost 22-17. Now they have a chance to redeem themselves and start the 2021 season off with a bang. Cleveland is fortunate to be very healthy to start with the season, with Odell Beckham Jr, Grant Delpit, and Greedy Williams all slated to play. They were all returning from brutal injuries. The Chiefs are the best team in the AFC, but that doesn’t mean they are invincible. Let’s take a look at how the Browns can escape Arrowhead with a win.

The defensive line and secondary playing at a high level

We all saw Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs get heavily exposed in the Super Bowl as the Buccaneers applied substantial pressure all game. That is the main way to beat the Chiefs and the Browns have all the players in place to do just that. Myles Garrett and free agent signings Jadeveon Clowney and Takk Mckinley are healthy and ready to go. In addition to them, Malik McDowell and Malik Jackson look poised to wreak havoc on the interior defensive line (McDowell was the 3rd highest graded defensive player in the preseason). The Chiefs have three new starters on the offensive line, so the Browns could easily take advantage of that with an intense pass rush. The secondary in Cleveland got a makeover as well. Rookie Greg Newsome is starting opposite of Pro Bowler Denzel Ward and Troy Hill will be in the Nickel. John Johnson, Ronnie Harrison, and Grant Delpit will be at the safety positions. We might even see versatile rookie Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah take snaps at safety. That is a massive amount of talent that could lead to coverage sacks as well. If they all come together, it could be a long day for Patrick Mahomes.

Getting an early lead

It is vital that the Browns get an early lead against the Chiefs on Sunday. If they can get up by two scores, their chances of winning skyrocket because of how dynamic their running game is. The one-two punch of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is very hard to stop and the Browns can control the clock if they are ahead. Let’s not forget that Chubb averaged over 10 yards per carry in the fourth quarter in 2020. He is the definition of a closer. With the Browns offensive line returning intact and healthy, the running game expects to pick up right where it left off as one of the best in football.

Stretching the field

In the playoff game, one of Cleveland’s biggest weaknesses was their lack of speed on offense. Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins are very talented receivers, but they aren’t burners that can stretch the field. That held the offense back and played a part in the loss. In week one, things should be very different with Odell Beckham Jr returning from injury and rookie speedster Anthony Schwartz being available for some gadget plays. Baker Mayfield appears to be in complete control of the offense, so expect some big play-action plays trying to hit OBJ deep. In addition to them, second year man Donovan Peoples-Jones has looked bigger and faster during training camp and preseason, catching everything thrown his way. Expect him to have a significant role as well.

The ball bouncing their way a few times

Most NFL games are decided by one or two plays and whether or not players/coaches want to admit it, getting lucky plays into a team winning the game. The Browns will have to get lucky a few times to win this game, whether it be a few penalties going their way, a Chiefs fumble bouncing into the arms of a Cleveland defender, or a tipped pass from Mahomes being caught by a linebacker. One of these things will need to happen in order to win the game. It would also help if a punt or kick return got returned for a touchdown. Rookie Demetric Felton has shown promise in that area, so there is a chance.

The post Week 1 preview: How the Browns can upset the Chiefs appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

The preseason in the NFL is well underway and we are starting to see how younger players are performing in the league. Most starters aren’t playing in order to avoid any major injuries. The Cleveland Browns have played two preseason games and they have won both, looking like a well-oiled machine the entire time. Kevin Stefanski appears to be in total control of the team and the players have bought into the transformed culture in The Land. There is a lot to be excited about if you’re a Browns fan.

The offensive side of the ball is essentially running it back from the 2020 season and because of this, everyone has been anxious to see how the revamped defense would perform. On both sides of the ball, depth is very important and so many players are fighting for roster spots. Let’s take a look at how the offense, defense, and special teams have performed so far.

The Offense

Players such as Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, and Odell Beckham Jr have yet to see the field. That doesn’t mean the offense hasn’t been exciting, though. Quarterback Case Keenum has started both games and because he has experience playing under Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota, he has appeared very comfortable. It is nice knowing the Browns could still be competitive if something happened to Baker Mayfield. Third string quarterback Kyle Lauletta has looked impressive as well, making some nice throws in the Jaguars game. He might end up on the practice squad.

One thing we learned in both preseason games is that Cleveland is absolutely stacked at wide receiver and running back. Donovan Peoples-Jones has shined, catching everything thrown his way. KhaDarel Hodge and Damion Davis have looked sure-handed as well. There are going to be some tough decisions to be made with this wide receiver room. In addition to all of them, rookie running back/wide receiver hybrid Demetric Felton has looked fantastic in both games, displaying great hands and elusive speed in open space. It will be interesting to see where he ends up on the roster.

In the running back room, things are a little more set in stone. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt round out the best one-two punch in the NFL, but depth is always needed. D’Earnest Johnson has looked good, specifically in the game against the New York Giants. He had some key runs in 2020 when Nick Chubb went down with injury. It is likely that he will make the roster and the third string running back, and Demetric Felton will be kept as a wide receiver.

Where the offense has shined is the offensive line. Not one starter has played and the backups have overall been exceptional. That has to be such a relief for Kevin Stefanski to have so much depth in such a vital area. They won’t be able to keep all of them, but rookie James Hudson, Blake Hance, Nick Harris, Michael Dunn, and Drew Forbes all have a shot to make this team. It’ll just come down to how many they decide to keep. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who is arguably the best offensive line coach in the NFL, said he truly believes all of their backups could be starters in the league. High praise from him, so expect other teams to quickly scoop up who the Browns do not keep.

The Defense

Much like the offense, most starters haven’t played yet on defense. Adding to that, unfortunately for the Browns injuries have piled up on that side of the ball. Most of these injuries aren’t season ending, but they did lose linebacker Jacob Phillips for the season due to a tendon tear. A big blow for a player most expected to take a nice step in 2021. Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, and Grant Delpit have been dealing with hamstring issues, but they are expected to be ready by week one.

The secondary and linebackers have had some good moments in the preseason, and some moments where they looked like young rookies. First round pick Greg Newsome displayed good coverage skills in the first preseason game and he will most likely win the starting job opposite of Denzel Ward, especially since Greedy Williams has been dealing with numerous injuries. The most impressive safety by far has been Richard LeCounte. He has two interceptions in two games and has shown great closing speed and play recognition. The Browns may have gotten a steal in Lecounte, who could see a lot of playing time this season. Moving to the linebackers, the hype is real for rookie Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. He looked like a stud in the game against the Jaguars, recording eight total tackles, one sack, and three tackles for a loss. He played less in the Giants game, which has lead most to believe that he will be the week one starter against Kansas City.

Probably the biggest question mark on Cleveland’s defense is the interior defensive line. Malik Jackson hasn’t played yet, so Andrew Billings, Tommy Togiai, Jordan Elliot, and Malk McDowell have gotten most of the snaps. Billings has appeared decent, but also looked very slow and unimpressive at times. Keep in mind that he didn’t play at all in 2020, so rust could be hard to shake off. Rookie Tommy Togiai has played well, recording a sack and getting several pressures. Perhaps the most impressive is Malik McDowell, who finished as the highest graded player for the Browns against the Giants. Lots of intriguing decisions to be made on the defensive line.

Special Teams

Cleveland’s special teams has been a bit rocky in the last few years. While they saw some success in 2019, 2020 had some ups and downs. Third year punter Jamie Gillian had a down year in 2020, but he was battling a groin injury throughout the season. He should return to his 2019 form this Fall. Cody Parkey was going to return as the kicker this season, but he suffered a season-ending injury this past week. He was battling Chase McLauhlin for the job, but with his injury, Chase will proceed forward as the Browns kicker. He is in his third season, so it could go either way interns of success.

Demetric Felton returned some punts and he had flashes of possibly securing the job. The coverage units on both punts and kickoffs have looked fine overall, except in the Jaguars game where they nearly gave up a return that was called back due to penalty. Who Andrew Berry and company decide to keep will be vital to the special teams unit, so if players want to make this roster they will need to contribute to special teams. There will be some compelling decisions to be made in the coming days.

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