2019 Record - 6-10-0
Head Coach - Kevin Stefanski
New Players in 2020 - Austin Hooper (TE), Case Keenum (QB), Jack Conklin (OL), Kevin Johnson (DB), Karl Joseph (DB), Adrian Clayborn (DL), Andrew Sendejo (DB), Andy Janovich (RB), JoJo Natson (WR)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - Andrew Billings (DL), Drew Forbes (OL), Drake Dorbeck (OL), Malcolm Pridgeon (OL), Colby Gossett (OL)
OFFENSE - Baker Mayfield returns as the starting quarterback for his third NFL season. Last season, he passed for 3,827 yards with 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Mayfield scored three rushing touchdowns and averaged five yards per carry, but he was also sacked 41 times. The Browns will have journeyman Case Keenum as the backup QB this season. Keenum passed for 1,707 yards with eleven touchdowns and five interceptions with Washington last year.
Nick Chubb rushed for 1,494 yards last season (5.0 ypc average) and scored eight touchdowns and also had 36 receptions. Kareem Hunt provides depth and he averaged 4.2 ypc and scored twice on the ground while hauling in 37 catches for 285 yards and a touchdown.
The wide receivers are once again led by Odell Beckham, Jr. (74 receptions for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns) and Jarvis Landry, who led the team with 83 receptions for 1,174 yards and six touchdowns. Austin Hooper (75, 787, six TD with Atlanta) is the tight end along with David Njoku and rookie Harrison Bryant (Florida Atlantic).
Cleveland finished in the middle of the pack on offense a year ago, averaging 341 yards per game and scoring 20.9 points per game. The running game was twelfth in the NFL, averaging 119 yards per game.
DEFENSE - Up front in Cleveland's defense are Myles Garrett (ten QB sacks) and Olivier Vernon (3 1/2 sacks) on the ends while Sheldon Richardson (three sacks) and Larry Ogunjobi (5 1/2 sacks) play the tackle positions. Chad Thomas, Adrian Clayborn (four sacks with Atlanta in 2019) and rookie Jordan Elliott (Missouri) add depth in this area.
Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki and either B.J. Goodson or rookie Jacob Phillips (LSU) are the likely starters at linebacker while the secondary has Denzel Ward (two interceptions) and Greedy Williams at cornerback. The safeties are Karl Joseph and perhaps rookie Grant Delpit (LSU) or Andrew Sendejo (two INT) who comes over from the Minnesota Vikings via free agency.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - The 2020 season will see the Browns with a new Head Coach as Kevin Stefanski takes over a team that was widely viewed as under achieving last season.
Getting more out of Mayfield and his talented wide receivers (Landry and Beckham, Jr.) is a must for the Browns this season if they want to compete in the AFC North. After a promising showing in his rookie year, Mayfield turned the football over way too much last season and has to get better pass protection from the offensive line.
As long as he's healthy, Nick Chubb and the ground game should continue to help the offense keep opponents on edge. The passing game should get a boost as (tight end) Austin Hooper comes on board after putting up good numbers with Atlanta, which should take some pressure off the wideouts as the only real option for Mayfield to look to.
Defensively, Cleveland was solid against the pass, ranking seventh in the league while allowing 217 yards per game and also had 14 interceptions. The run defense must get better after giving up 145 yards per game in 2019 (30th). The Browns allowed 24.6 points per game.
If the Browns want to stay out of the basement of the division again this season, they need to be consistent on offense and find a way to stop the run. Cutting down on the turnovers (minus-8 in 2019) would also be a huge factor. The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers are clearly the top teams in the AFC North and the Cincinnati Bengals will likely be improved in 2020, so there is pressure mounting on the team to put up or shut up this year.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Baltimore
Week Two - vs. Cincinnati
Week Three - vs. Washington
Week Four - at Dallas
Week Five - vs. Indianapolis
Week Six - at Pittsburgh
Week Seven - at Cincinnati
Week Eight - vs. Las Vegas
Week Nine - BYE
Week Ten - vs. Houston
Week Eleven - vs. Philadelphia
Week Twelve - at Jacksonville
Week Thirteen - at Tennessee
Week Fourteen - vs. Baltimore
Week Fifteen - at N.Y. Giants
Week Sixteen - at N.Y. Jets
Week Seventeen - vs. Pittsburgh
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