Cleveland Browns Preview and Prediction

Team Preview

The Cleveland Browns have not reached the postseason since 2003 and have a combined four wins in the last two NFL seasons. While the upcoming season may not be the one that sees the Browns reach the postseason, the organization at least looks to be on the right track.

Heard that one before? Of course you have. Every year, it seems at least one analyst, coach or player believes the upcoming season is the one that will reverse the fortune of the Browns' franchise.

So why does the organization appear to be on the right track, at least according to the Sportsman Hunter? The straightforward answer is Myles Garrett, David Njoku and Jabrill Peppers. The explained out answer is that sooner or later, all these top draft picks are going to start panning out.

This rookie class has the potential to be the one that turns the Browns around. Of course, only time will tell if the newly-drafted rookies helps the team finally turn the corner.

While the Browns can draft all the potential stars they want, they are going to have to hit on a quarterback to lead the offense if they ever want to be competitive each week. Over the past two seasons alone, Cleveland has started five different quarterbacks. And since 2003, well you know, a lot of quarterbacks have started for the Browns.

Despite being traded as essentially a salary cap dump, former Houston Texan Brock Osweiler may just open the season as the Browns' starter behind center. Osweiler is certainly not the long-term option the Browns are looking at, and if Osweiler tosses more interceptions than touchdowns, as he did last year, his time as a starter will be short-lived. Cody Kessler, a 2016 third-rounder, completed over 65 percent of his passes while adding 1,380 yards and six touchdowns while leading the Browns' offense last season. He too could open the year as the Browns' starter. 2017 second round pick DeShone Kizer becomes the next rookie QB that the Browns hope can become the long-term starter. Expect all three guys to get game action behind center. And maybe throw Kevin Hogan in there, just to be safe.

Turning our attention to the skill players around the quarterback, the Browns' boast a number of young talents. Running back Isaiah Crowell rushed for 952 yards and seven scores while fellow RB Duke Johnson rushed for 358 yards and added 514 in the passing game. The duo will be joined by rookie seventh-rounder Matt Dayes, who might also steal some rushing attempts throughout the year. The backs will run behind a Joe Thomas-led offensive line that has improved after the additions of JC Tretter and Kevin Zeitler.

For the wide receiver corps, last season's leader Terrelle Pryor left to join the Washington Redskins. Former Los Angeles Ram Kenny Britt will now join promising 2016 first rounder Corey Coleman in trying to form a formidable receiving duo. Rashard Higgins and Ricardo Louis will also need to make jumps in their second years to jumpstart a Browns' passing game that ranked 28th last year, recording just over 200 yards a game. Njoku, a tight end and first round pick in the most recent draft, should also see plenty of targets once he cracks the starting lineup. His 6'4 frame pairs him and Britt (6'3) and big targets in the red zone.

On defense is where the Browns could take large strides in the upcoming football season. Garrett, the 2017 NFL Draft's first overall pick, adds to a Cleveland defensive line that already boasts Danny Shelton and Emmanuel Ogbah. With Shelton reported to miss three-to-six weeks, 2017 third-rounder Larry Ogunjobi could also work his way into a prominent role.

At linebacker, Christian Kirksey leads the way after tallying 148 total tackles last season. Jamie Collins is also poised for another big season after posting 112 tackles between the New England Patriots and Browns. After the departure of Demario Davis, second-year LB Joe Schobert will most likely land the middle linebacker position after Tank Carder, who Schobert was battling for the job, tore his ACL.

Joe Haden and Jamar Taylor lead a solid cornerback group that also features newly-signed Jason McCourty and Briean Boddy-Calhoun, an undrafted CB from the 2016 class. Peppers, the dynamic first-rounder out of Michigan will see time at safety and maybe also at linebacker, cornerback and in the wildcat formation for the offense. He is the type of player that can both energize a defense and put other players in better situations, making him a player to watch throughout the season and coming years.

2017-18 Schedule/Predictions 1 - vs Pittsburgh Steelers (L) 2 - at Baltimore Ravens (L) 3 - at Indianapolis Colts (L) 4 - vs Cincinnati Bengals (W) 5 - vs New York Jets (W) 6 - at Houston Texans (L) 7 - vs Tennessee Titans (L) 8 - vs Minnesota Vikings (L) 9 - BYE 10 - at Detroit Lions (L) 11 - vs Jacksonville Jaguars (W) 12 - at Cincinnati Bengals (L) 13 - at Los Angeles Chargers (L) 14 - vs Green Bay Packers (L) 15 - vs Baltimore Ravens (L) 16 - at Chicago Bears (L) 17 - at Pittsburgh Steelers (L)

Season Record: 3-13, 1-5 AFC North

If the Browns figure out their quarterback dilemma, the defense could reap the benefits and make this team one that might really shock a lot of fans this season. Expect the Browns to hang tough in most of their upcoming season matchups. Weeks 4-6 and 11-13 offer the Browns their most winnable stretches of games. A year of competitive football would do wonders for a team stuck in a nearly two-decade long rebuild and that is how I see the Browns' season shaking out. However, a playoff berth is still at least one year away for the Cleveland Browns.

Next AFC Team Up - Jacksonville Jaguars

Sources not listed in article: ESPN - stats; Ourlads - depth chart; Playoff Predictors - schedule/record projections.

#ClevelandBrowns