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The Cleveland Browns have had a very busy offseason, and their biggest move has obviously been acquiring wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in a trade with the New York Giants.
The majority of the talk has been about the potential connection between Baker Mayfield and Beckham, and that's only natural, as Beckham is certainly one of the league's best wide outs.
But in order for the Browns to truly contend for a Super Bowl, they are going to need more than just the Mayfield-Beckham tandem.
Luckily, Cleveland has some other options offensively, and one of those options is fellow wide out Jarvis Landry.
No one is going to confuse Landry for Beckham or any of the other top receivers in football, but he is still very good and is unquestionably a terrific No. 2 receiver. He is a four-time Pro Bowler for a reason, after all.
Landry may very well end up being the key to the Browns offense, an offense that also includes running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and tight end David Njoku.
Why?
Well, it's important to keep in mind that Landry already has some familiarity with Mayfield, as he has a full season with Mayfield under his belt. This past year, Landry hauled in 81 receptions for 976 yards and four touchdowns as the Browns' No. 1 receiver, so he and Mayfield have already established some camaraderie.
Plus, we know the type of attention that Beckham attracts defensively. He frequently draws double teams, which should not only make life easier for Landry, but also make him a much more open target than he was in 2018.
The key to any NFL offense is having a whole slew of guys who can do damage, and the Browns certainly have that. But even then, there are X-factor players who tend to step up and put a team over the top.
For example, just imagine how much more lethal the Los Angeles Rams' offense will be this season if Cooper Kupp comes back healthy?
It might be a bit too much to call a four-time Pro Bowler like Landry an X-factor, but on a team where numerous other offensive players are garnering more attention and fanfare, he may end up becoming just that.
We also need to remember that Beckham has had some trouble staying healthy over the last two years, playing in just 16 games combined between 2017 and 2018.
Meanwhile, Landry is yet to miss a game in his five-year NFL career, so if Beckham misses some time, Mayfield and the Browns will be able to count on Landry being there.
There is no question that Beckham is the most talented player on Cleveland's offense, and he will absolutely get his so long as he is on the field. He is an athletic freak and a generational talent.
But Landry will need to maintain his level of production and provide Mayfield with a source of comfort in the passing game, as we have already seen what Mayfield and Landry are capable of doing together.
The Browns are going to be a very good offensive team, and that is largely due to the addition of Beckham, but it's Landry who may very well be the straw that stirs the drink.
