By: Nick Frieburger | Staff Writer
The Cleveland Browns in recent years have been the laughingstock of the NFL, but after this past off-season, Browns fans should be very excited.
Two seasons ago the Browns finished with a record of 0-16; yes, zero wins and sixteen losses. After selecting Quarterback Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick, they looked like a much more better team than last year. They finished with a record of 7-8-1, not great, but an improvement. Mayfield came just shy of winning the NFL offensive rookie of the year honors and showed he can be an elite player in this league. After not making the playoffs since 2002 and not winning the division since 1989, the Cleveland Browns are hoping this is the year.
They started off their off-season by signing running back Kareem Hunt to a one-year $1.1 million contract. Hunt was viewed as a top running back in the league before he was released last December due to domestic violence. Hunt will be suspended for the first 8 games of the season, but Cleveland has second-year running back Nick Chubb to pick up some of the slack.
Not only did they sign a pro bowl running back, they made perhaps the biggest move of the offseason in acquiring superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Although in the last few seasons Beckham has missed time due to injury, he is still a game changer and can make the Browns a contender.
In 2018 with the Giants, Beckham averaged 6.4 catches a game and 87.7 receiving yards a game which ranked 15th among NFL wide receivers in both categories. That same season Beckham also received 33.3% of the Giants’ total receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, (dominator rating). That number expected to go down with the amount of weapons Cleveland now has.
Beckham is now teammates again with Jarvis Landry after the two were standout wide receivers at Louisiana State University, and they hope to do the same thing in Cleveland. After many grueling years for Cleveland they should be exhilarated for this upcoming season, as the Browns are finally contenders and can make it back to the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.
