The NFL coach-of-the-year in 2020 has new challenges in 2021. (Getty Images)
The 23 most important figures to steer the Browns to their first division title
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Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
(Last in a series previewing Browns training camp.)
As the Browns take the field for the first time Wednesday, Kevin Stefanski’s second training camp has the palpable feeling of the beginning of something special.
Celebrating their 75th anniversary as a franchise, the Browns have a chance to write some new history.
They ended the NFL’s longest post-season drought last year, finally returning to the playoffs and even winning a wild-card playoff game -- over the arch-nemesis Steelers, in Pittsburgh, to boot.
What’s next on their to-do list?
In their expansion era, the Browns have not claimed a division title or played host to a playoff game. It’s the shortest route to reaching their first Super Bowl.
How do they make that happen? A better question is: who makes that happen?
In their 23rd season since their rebirth in 1999, we offer the 23 most important figures in making this a historic Browns season.
23. Cody Parkey
The veteran kicker played through a mid-season slump and was perfect in two post-season games. Parkey now has some currency, having claimed FirstEnergy Stadium as his home field in 2016 and 2020. He’s acquired some feel for the swirling Lake Erie winds. If he were to stumble in camp and not hold onto his job, the Browns would be forced to break in yet another kicker to pass the mandatory meteorology exam. Nobody wants that.
22. Anthony Schwartz
Don’t expect him to get a lot of snaps in the regular offense. The Browns should dedicate training camp to tutoring the world-class sprinter as a primary return specialist.
21. Ronnie Harrison
The safety looked like a playmaker as a hitter and in coverage last year. He needs to be “available” over 17 games.
20. Austin Hooper
His parallel-to-the-ground catch in crunch time in the Kansas City game raised a question: Where was he all year? The Browns claimed they were pleased with Hooper’s first season in Cleveland. But his 46 receptions for 435 yards and 4 TD didn’t make anyone forget Gary Barnidge. And his salary cap number more than doubles to $8.25 million this year.
19. Grant Delpit
I still think he can be the best Browns safety since Eric Turner in 1994. If he can accelerate the learning curve after missing his rookie season, he will be the key player in coordinator Joe Woods’ three-safety look.
18. Donovan Peoples-Jones
Big, strong, fast, smart, catches everything. What’s not to like? I see him as a sleeper breakout player in 2021, with a brighter future beyond.
17. Kareem Hunt
What a letdown it must have been for him in the divisional playoff game in Kansas City against his former team. Didn’t touch the ball the entire first half. I think the opener in Kansas City will be different and Hunt will undertake a larger role than just spelling Nick Chubb. Can the Browns get these guys on the field together more, already?
16. Alex Van Pelt
The offensive coordinator deserves high marks for correcting Baker Mayfield’s faulty mechanics and also calling a superb game in the wild-card rout of the Steelers. It remains to be seen if Van Pelt earned Stefanski’s trust as a permanent play-caller. If the Browns realize their lofty expectations, AVP could muster some head coach feelers.
15. Greg Newsome
Frankly, he needs to beat out Greedy Williams and then stay “available” for at least 14 games. If so, the Browns’ secondary will be in great shape for the playoffs.
14. Denzel Ward
The next level for him is more games played and more interceptions.
13. Anthony Walker
Every position group needs a veteran player who commands the respect in his “room.” Walker was loved as a teammate with the Indianapolis Colts. He’ll probably be the one linebacker to never leave the field. He’ll need to lead that young group of linebackers along with Malcolm Smith.
12. John Johnson
The marquee free agent signing, he is going to be the quarterback in the secondary as the free safety. That makes him a very important player.
11. Jarvis Landry
Landry re-assumes the dual role as Big Brother to OBJ. His primary role is Mayfield’s go-to guy on third downs.
10. Jadeveon Clowney
Imagine Clowney, in his eighth NFL season, finally having that “career year.” What would that look like? More than 900 defensive snaps, more than 10 sacks, a half-dozen turnovers. Is that too much to ask?
9. Nick Chubb
Unseating Derrick Henry as the NFL rushing champion is not out of the question. Did you know … his 5.2-yard rushing average through three seasons equals the career mark of Jim Brown?
8. JC Tretter
This is the peak year of Tretter’s three-year contract extension signed in 2019. Despite chronic bad knees, the center hasn’t missed a snap in four seasons with the Browns. Tretter is a warrior, the anchor of arguably the league’s finest offensive line. But watch the Browns work 2020 draft pick Nick Harris hard in the preseason to groom him as Tretter's successor – probably after this season.
7. Odell Beckham Jr.
He could be the icing on the cake to the offense – or a wrench that discombobulates the whole machine. A lot depends on whether the quarterback can lay down the law and not be intimidated by OBJ’s incredible aura.
6. Andrew Berry
In two seasons, the GM has attained rock-star status in talent acquisiton. But the NFL GM’s job gets tougher as his team ascends as a contender. Berry can set a positive tone by securing contract extensions for Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Denzel Ward and Wyatt Teller. They won’t all happen this year, but Berry has to take care of business with the main players to extend the Super Bowl window for the Browns.
5. Bill Callahan
One of the league’s premier offensive line coaches had a tremendous debut season with the Browns in 2020. Because his position group is the heart of the offense, Callahan has to take it to the next level and develop rookie James Hudson for possible play time as a swingman at tackle and guard.
4. Myles Garrett
His oft-spoken goal as defensive player-of-the-year is within his reach. Team success will draw attention to him. He really needs to be available for 15 to 17 games.
3. Joe Woods
The affable defensive coordinator was dealt a bad hand last year as a result of injuries in training camp to cornerback Greedy Williams, safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Mack Wilson. Not only are they healthy now, GM Andrew Berry added so many new players on defense that Woods conceivably could have nine new starters. Woods faces a unique challenge in having to incorporate so many new players. It’s logical that it will take time, but the Browns open the 2021 season in Kansas City against the NFL’s No. 1 offense. He has to simultaneously get his players ready for a marquee opener but also to be good over the long haul of 17 regular-season games.
2. Baker Mayfield
The bromide is that an NFL team goes only as far as its quarterback takes it. Besides that task, Mayfield has to assert control of the Beckham situation and make sure his presence does not spook him into forcing the ball to him.
1. Kevin Stefanski
Everybody says the NFL is a quarterback league. A general manager told me years ago that it really is a coach’s league. The best coaches win every year, no matter their quarterback. Stefanski won coach-of-the-year honors last year as a first time head coach. For an encore, he can take the Browns to their first division title in the expansion era.
