Where does Nick Chubb rank on the list of 20 most valuable Browns? Near the top, of course. (Sportsnaut)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
As the NFL season officially reached the halfway point on Sunday, the Browns found themselves in a dogfight for one of three AFC wild card playoff berths.
The Ravens (6-2) own the top spot, the No. 5 seed. The other two seeds are a contest between the Browns, Raiders, Colts and Dolphins – all 5-3. If tie-breakers come into play, the Browns beat the Colts and lost to the Raiders. They don’t play the Dolphins. Second tie-breaker is AFC record, and it’s too early to call on that.
The Browns return from their bye week on Monday with quarterback Baker Mayfield on the Covid-19 reserve list as a result of close contact with an unidentified staff member who tested positive. The soonest Mayfield can return to work is Wednesday -- five days after the original contact – as long as he keeps testing negative.
When coach Kevin Stefanski addresses media on Monday, he probably won’t acknowledge the playoff race is on. So far, he has avoided discussion about it by saying the Browns are merely trying to go 1-0 every week. At some point, that has to change.
One thing is for sure: If the Browns hope to break the NFL’s longest playoff drought of 18 years, they are going to need consistent production from the top tier of their roster.
Here is our list of the 20 most important Browns in their pursuit of a playoff berth.
20. Kicker Cody Parkey
After converting his first 30 kicks – 22 of 22 PATs and 8 of 8 field goals – to stabilize a wobbly kicking situation, he has missed 2 of his last 4. The stakes for every kick get higher as the season goes on.
19. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson
Would you guess he is second on the defense with 2.5 sacks? He had only three last year. Is five asking too much?
18. Linebacker B.J. Goodson
As the weather turns, stopping the run becomes more important. The team’s leading tackler, he’s on pace to shatter his personal best for tackles in a season.
17. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi
His “contract year” has been lacking, partially due to an oblique muscle injury. Still looking for his first sack. He must turn it on.
16. Tight end Harrison Bryant
Three of his 15 receptions have gone for touchdowns. He needs to be targeted more.
15. Cornerback Terrance Mitchell
His last season in Kansas City (2017), he had four interceptions. In 2 ½ seasons with the Browns, he has two. The starting spot is his with Greedy Williams out. He’ll be a free agent at the end of the year. A few INTs would set him up.
14. Tight end Austin Hooper
He averaged 73 receptions and five touchdowns his last two seasons in Atlanta. He’s on pace for 44 and two. Thought this offense was supposed to highlight the tight ends.
13. Wide receiver Rashard Higgins
The No. 2 receiver slot is his with Odell Beckham Jr. out for the year. Time to stroll the red carpet, Hollywood.
12. Linebacker Mack Wilson
He’s had six games now to knock off the rust from missing four weeks of training camp and two games with a knee injury. There have been some signs of life the past two games, but he needs an INT to get going already.
11. Right guard Wyatt Teller
His absence for three games with a calf injury has been felt. He is the only mauler on the offensive line. His physicality will be a huge boost.
10. Defensive end Olivier Vernon
His two sacks in the Raiders game raised hope that rigor mortis hasn’t totally set in. No defensive end opposite Myles Garrett has totaled more than four sacks in a season. An awful stat.
9. Strong safety Ronnie Harrison
In his last three games, he’s had an interception and return for a touchdown, a fumble recovery, and a dropped interception and team-high 10 tackles. Can he turn into Minkah Fitpatrick for eight games?
8. Running back Kareem Hunt
In place of Nick Chubb as RB1, he has averaged 3.9 yards per rush (254 yards on 65 attempts) with no touchdowns, and has 10 receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Nothing spectacular there. But the rib injury bug bit him, too.
7. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry
He has played through a broken rib aggravated by punishing hits in three successive games. He’s still looking for his first touchdown and 100-yard game.
6. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.
Despite a team-high seven penalties, he has ably protected Baker Mayfield’s blind side. He’s already the best left tackle since Joe Thomas, which makes him fairly irreplaceable in-season.
5. Center JC Tretter
Rookie Nick Harris got valuable reps through the entire training camp. No offense, but nobody wants to see him in there with a playoff spot on the line.
4. Cornerback Denzel Ward
Opposing quarterbacks of note up ahead: DeShaun Watson, Carson Wentz, Ryan Tannehill, Lamar Jackson, Ben Roethlisberger.
3. Quarterback Baker Mayfield
No more games left against the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s time to beat a team with a winning record in the second half of a season.
2. Running back Nick Chubb
He could be back to practice this week. Everybody who said the running game would be OK without him was dead wrong.
1. Defensive end Myles Garrett
He is running slightly behind Aaron Donald for defensive player of the year honors. A second-half surge would steal that award and propel the Browns into the postseason. Without him, they can lose to any team.