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Don’t Sleep On The Browns

(via footballscoop.com)

By Constantine Martin
Twitter: @gusmartin321

The Cleveland Browns have been a sham of a NFL football team for years. There is no denying that. A pitiful 4-44 record over the last three seasons somehow does not convey the full scope of the organization's failures, but perhaps the city's 0-16 parade after the 2017 season accurately depicts how dysfunctional football in Cleveland truly is.

With that being said, the Browns' misfortunes might finally be coming to an end.

The 2018-2019 season will hopefully mark a turning point for Browns football, as the team has, at long last, actually acquired talented players at pivotal positions. Browns fans can finally have something real and tangible to look forward to for the first time in what seems like forever.

Lets go through the most promising units the Browns will utilize in the upcoming season and how they can help them win some games, or at least improve from zero wins to one.

1. Receivers:
The Browns have a potential two-headed monster in receivers Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon. Acquired through an offseason trade with the Miami Dolphins, Landry will have an immediate impact on the Browns. Last season, Landry caught nine touchdowns and a league-leading 112 receptions, most of which came from a post-retirement Jay Cutler. Landry has also never missed a game in his NFL career, so having a durable target with reliable hands is never a bad addition to a team.

Gordon returned to the NFL in 2017 after missing the previous two seasons due to suspension and rehab. While he only played five games and was clearly still trying to get his rhythm back, he showed flashes of his legendary 2014 season when he put up a league-leading 1,646 receiving yards and proved to football world that he had all the tools to be the next great NFL receiver. He's only 27, so there is likely still a lot of football ability left in the tank for Gordon. Even if he doesn't reach the same level he was four years ago, regaining half of that ability would be enough to make a Pro Bowl.

Pair Landry with a stud receiving talent like Gordon, and even the Browns' worst quarterbacks of the last decade could put some points on the board. Gordon himself has said he thinks this receiving core is the best in the league, and if other promising rotation receivers like Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis and Rashard Higgins can be productive, then watch out opposing DB's.

2. Quarterbacks:
The QB position has been the ultimate failure of the Browns organization during the past decade, as the team has gone through player after player in hopes of finding that franchise-saving talent. 2018, however, is the first time that Browns fans can have real hope in the team's quarterback play.

The Browns drafted Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick in this year's draft, but unlike in past seasons, the team does not have all its hope riding on one man. They also traded for seven-year veteran Tyrod Taylor, a pro-bowler in 2015 with arm talent and is a threat to make big plays with his legs. Taylor should start the year off as the Browns' starting QB, a move that will not only give the Browns a reliable man behind center for the first time in a while, but will also give Mayfield the necessary time to adjust to the NFL and relieve him of some pressure to perform well in his first year.

If all else fails, the Browns actually have a plan C in Drew Stanton. Stanton has gone 11-6 in 17 career starts and is a more than capable backup, let alone a third-stringer. If needed, Stanton can hold down the fort for the Browns well enough to not have the team fall into complete disarray like they were last year. Having consistency at the most important position in football has been the biggest issue for the Browns, and they might have finally done it right in 2018.

3. Defensive Anchors:
While the defense as a whole still needs more depth to be a formidable stopper against good teams, the Browns might finally have the defensive pieces to build around.

2017 first overall pick and all-rookie first team member defensive end Myles Garrett, safety Jabrill Peppers and rookie cornerback Denzel Ward are possibly three of the most talented young defensive players in the league. 

Garrett showed flashes of dominance during his rookie season, recording four sacks in his first three career games, but missed the first five games of the season due to injury. Peppers also dealt with injuries throughout the season, but the 2017 25th overall pick certainly has potential to become a star safety in the NFL like he was at the University of Michigan. Ward, the fourth overall pick in 2018 out of Ohio State, was easily the most dominant cornerback in college last season, so he should improve the Browns against the pass, which the team didn't do much of last season as they were ranked 19th in passing yards allowed per game.

Additionally, The Browns have a talented linebacking unit led by top-50 power-ranked defenders Joe Schobert, Christian Kirksey and James Burgess. The team also brought in veteran and Super Bowl champion Mychal Kendricks from the the Philadelphia Eagles in hopes that he can help teach the team's young guys how to win at the highest level.

The Browns have not been known to be good developers of young talent, but the right pieces are there for them to at least not be the push-over they were on defense last year when they ranked second to last in points allowed.

4. Backfield:
The Browns have a somewhat loaded backfield heading into 2018, but having too many skilled players has never been a concern for Cleveland, let alone a reality.

Free agent acquisition Carlos Hyde was a productive running back over the past two season, posting over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each year, so he should be the most consistent runner for the team heading into 2018.

They also have Duke Johnson, who in 2017 became one of the NFL's best receiving backs. He also gained over 1,000 yards from scrimmage last year, so pairing him with Hyde should produce a running and receiving duo difficult for opposing defense to handle.

Lastly, the 35th overall pick in the 2018 draft Nick Chubb out of Georgia will also prove to be an interesting pick-up for the Browns. Chubb was part of a dynamic running game at the University of Georgia on its Championship run, so he should be a strong third option.

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