Cleveland Browns: 3 major needs entering the NFL offseason

The Cleveland Browns fell very short of meeting expectations in 2019. If they want to be competitive in 2020, they need to add a few things.

Many believed the 2019 season was finally going to be the year that the Cleveland Browns make it back to the playoffs and potentially more.

Instead of making it to the postseason, the Browns finished with only six wins. Now there are only all kinds of questions surrounding them. Cleveland has a good core, but they are still missing some key pieces to get the team back over that hump. Let's breakdown three major needs for the Browns entering the offseason.

3. A third wide receiver

The Browns have their top two wide receivers figured out with Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. After those two, there are a lot of question marks and something that needs to be addressed. The third best actual wide receiver was Damion Ratley, who had 12 receptions.

The 2020 NFL Draft is a loaded wide receiver class, so it would make sense if the team used a draft pick in the first couple of rounds on a wideout. Whatever they do, it's going to be tough to get much less production out of the wideout position outside of the two aforementioned.

2. Offensive line

One of the big reasons for the struggles of Baker Mayfield was the offensive line nearly always making him run for his life. Desmond Harrison, Greg Robinson, and Chris Hubbard all didn't live up to the expectations, and the team needs to make sure they upgrade almost the entire line in return.

The Browns probably need to use a high draft pick on one lineman. Cleveland should also spend some good money on a free agent to help sure it up. If Mayfield can have more time to survey the field, that would be a good first step in the efforts to improve his play.

1. The right head coach

The Browns really needed to make the right head coaching hire last offseason, but they swung and missed with Freddie Kitchens and now are back at the drawing table. Whoever Cleveland hires will be hyped up as the coach who will turn around the franchise, but we won't know if that's the case for sure for at least one season.

The Browns need a coach who can handle some of the big personalities that are in the locker room. The coach also needs to help Baker Mayfield take that big step forward. Whoever is the offensive coordinator needs to create an offense that plays to the strength of Mayfield.

If the team hires the right coach, it will be the best acquisition of the offseason.