Baker Mayfield improved by a lot more than just this much. (Sportscasting)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
My annual Browns player rankings this year are different in two ways.
*They took a full month to formulate. I wanted to let the dust settle from one of the most entertaining and satisfying Browns seasons in decades. And then it snowed, so …
*They are based on 18 games – not 16 – because the Browns appeared in two post-season games and won one for the first time since 1994.
Recently, I have limited the rankings to the top 20 players rather than rank them from top of the roster to bottom. I also include five special mentions.
These totally unscientific rankings are based on contributions, roles, opportunities and production, and my real-time observations -- not on any mathematical formula or frame-by-frame film study.
2020 Browns Player Rankings
1. Quarterback Baker Mayfield
His growth from the first Pittsburgh game (his lowest low) to the third and last Pittsburgh game (his highest high) was enormous. In the span of 12 games, he matured in the Kevin Stefanski offensive system into an elite quarterback – the first Browns QB to beat Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh -- and then performed as the best player in the divisional playoff game loss to the Chiefs. In the end, he forced the issue on the Browns to re-invest in a lucrative contract extension, which should come before the first kickoff of 2021.
2. Defensive end Myles Garrett
Before being decked by Covid-19, he had 9.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and caused a safety in nine games. Never shaking the profound effects of the virus, he tapered off with 3.5 sacks over the last seven games. Still, he mustered a takedown of Chad Henne in the Kansas City game that could have/should have propelled the team into the AFC Championship game.
3. Running back Nick Chubb
He responded from a four-week sprained knee injury with successive rushing games of 126 yards, 114 and 144 en route to a 1,067-yard, 12-touchdown season over 12 games. Two dropped passes in the Kansas City game should fuel another offseason of commitment to improve to a higher level.
4. Left guard Joel Bitonio
The longest-tenured Brown completed his third season in a row without missing a snap, earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl berth and his first All-Pro honor. But the best thing was the team winning with him on Covid-reserve in the wild-card game against Pittsburgh and earning him his first post-season appearance in the Kansas City divisional round game.
5. Right tackle Jack Conklin
A free agent acquisition who outperformed his big contract. Do you know how rare that is?
6. Cornerback Denzel Ward
Injuries and Covid protocols limited him to 12 games for the second year in a row, but his best game against Philadelphia – and the games he missed – demonstrated his value as the secondary’s playmaker.
7. Right guard Wyatt Teller
The team’s most improved player – by a whisker over Mayfield -- came into his own under line coach Bill Callahan, earning an All-Pro berth as a road-grader agile enough to pull and pulverize at the same time.
8. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry
Even in arguably his worst individual season in seven, he displayed toughness and leadership that can’t be measured in statistics.
9. Running back Kareem Hunt
I’m not sure there is a tougher runner in the NFL.
10. Defensive end Olivier Vernon
The bad news was his season – and maybe his Browns career -- ended with a ruptured Achilles in the final regular-season game. The good news was before the unfortunate injury he showed he could still be a force and came through when Garrett was sidelined.
11. Linebacker B.J. Goodson
He seized the leadership vacuum in the linebacker room and put together his finest season in his fifth year on a one-year prove-it deal. Now, do they bring him back?
12. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson
An amazingly consistent and durable performer with unfailing energy.
13. Center JC Tretter
To put together yet another season of 100 percent snaps while doubling as the conscience of the players union and chief navigator of the pandemic protocols made for an astounding and triumphant year.
14. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.
Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Beckton might have graded higher as rookies, but nobody was complaining after Wills completed a successful transition to left tackle and set the foundation for a long career.
15. Wide receiver Rashard Higgins
He had the second-best catch rate (71.2 percent) to Landry (71.3), a prodigious yards per catch figure (16.2) and second-best receiving touchdowns (4) in the most extended play time of his career.
16. Strong safety Ronnie Harrison
A gem found in Jacksonville’s September fire sale, he figures to be a central figure in the second iteration of coordinator Joe Woods’ defense.
17. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi
The spoils of winning the media’s Good Guy Award usually means a ticket out of town to a Super Bowl contender. In his case, he would be leaving one if he departs in free agency.
18. Tight end Austin Hooper
Winning accolades as a key blocker in the NFL’s third-ranking rushing offense was small consolation for four-year lows in receptions and yards. His parallel-to-the-ground catch in the Kansas City game, though, was a season highlight.
19. Cornerback Terrance Mitchell
A career-high 1,004 defensive snaps and 16 starts were important to the cause, even though they did not produce a single interception.
20. Strong safety Karl Joseph
Nobody hit harder, and his recovery of the wild snap in the playoff game set the tone for the rout of the Steelers.
Special mention
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.: The game in Dallas was epic – three touchdowns, one on a 50-yard tightrope run on an end-around – and reminded everyone what he can still be.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki: Third in most-improved status after Teller and Mayfield, he established himself as a core player of the defense with some big plays.
Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones: The game-winning TD catch and toe-tap in the second Cincinnati game was the play of the year and possibly foretold a future star.
Linebacker Jacob Phillips: He looks like a player, if he can stay on the field for 16 games.
Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge: The revelation beyond his run-blocking and special teams player was he can catch, too.
Ed. note: An earlier version of this story inadvertently omitted a player.