The Cleveland Browns are finally out of the NFL basement and are one of the best teams in the league. Last season was the breakout everyone in Cleveland had been waiting for. The team was built up with a solid defense, a solid offensive line, and a solid offense. Nothing was too flashy and everything worked out for them. Second-year head coach Kevin Stefanski looks to be exactly what Cleveland needed.
Baker Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall pick, is not an elite quarterback, but he is getting there and had his best season yet in 2020. His QBR hovered around the low 50s for his first couple season, but last year it jumped to 72.2, making it his best season to date. Mayfield doesn't need to be elite with the players surrounding him on offense and defense. The Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt running back duo is elite, but their wide receiver duo looks to get back to playing at their potential. Jarvis Landry looks to be a fine No. 2 wide receiver, but can the No. 1 return to form?
How Odell Beckham Jr. performs in 2021 will play a key role in this Browns season.
Cleveland Browns X-Factor: Odell Beckham Jr.
Since being traded from the New York Giants to the Browns, Beckham has not exactly been the same player he once was. He's famous for his highlights and one-handed catches, and you're all thinking of the same catch right now. When you put aside all those highlight-reel plays, Beckham hasn't had 1,100 yards or seven touchdowns since the 2016 season. Beckham has also struggled to stay on the field for a full season, plying in 15 or more games just three times in his seven-year career.
Last season, Beckham only had 23 catches for 319 yards in seven games before tearing his ACL and missing the rest of the season. The Browns were fine without OBJ after he went down last season, but teams are going to adjust to what Cleveland did on offense. Chubb and Hunt should be able to just run over some defenses, but there are going to be games where Mayfield and Beckham need to have an extremely strong connection in order to win.
The Browns sit at an over/under of 10.5 wins using Vegas Insider, and those are some hefty expectations to meet. Hitting the over would mean the Browns finish at least 11-6 with the new 17-game schedule. Those 17 games include a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on the opening Sunday, plus two games each against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, but overall it's a schedule that should give the Browns a solid chance to finish at 11 wins.
The defense led by Myles Garrett, John Johnson III, and Denzel Ward will do their part. Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Jarvis Landry all need to continue to do what they've done the last couple seasons. Cleveland just has that open offensive hole, and Odell Beckham Jr. can perfectly fit into that role if all breaks right for him in his return from injury.
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