Category: Projections

Ranking Jacoby Brissett among AFC quarterbacks

If Watson is suspended for most or all of 2022, which AFC quarterbacks are better than Brissett and what does that mean for the rest of the roster and coaching staff?

The odds-on favorite to start the most games at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 2022 has to be Jacoby Brissett. Baker Mayfield is still likely to be traded while Deshaun Watson is likely to have a significant suspension.

We have begun to prepare for a Brissett-led season, or at least a majority of games, with a few pieces. First, with the Browns roster being so good, Brissett only has to be as good or better than an injured Mayfield was in 2021. Second, on the field, Cleveland choosing Brissett over Mayfield may be about taking the higher floor over the higher ceiling player.

We understand there are off-the-field issues that have been hinted about with Mayfield and Tuesday the Heisman Trophy winner made it pretty clear both sides have moved on.

So looking at all of the quarterbacks in the AFC, just where would Brissett rank?

Poll: What is your biggest worry about the Lions in 2022?

Poll: What is your biggest worry about the Detroit Lions in 2022?

Summer is the season of eternal optimism. And it’s merited in Detroit, where the Lions sure look capable of improving mightily from last season’s dismal 3-13-1 record.

There are a lot of reasons to feel good about the direction the team is heading. But there are also several potential stumbling blocks and concerns with the roster and team.

Based on social media comments and interactions with other fans, these potential issues tend to be the biggest areas of concern for the Lions in this coming season. Which one worries you the most in terms of how it could negatively impact the progress in the second year of the Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell regime in Detroit?

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You may vote more than once, just wait an hour. If you choose “other”, feel free to leave a comment on what your biggest concern might be.

Browns Who Must Step Up Part 1: Donovan People-Jones

In the start of his series on Browns players who need to step up, @WardOnSports looks at the team’s current #2 receiver:

The Cleveland Browns wrapped up mandatory minicamp last week and will have off until the open of training camp on July 27th. Much is still to be determined pertaining to who will lead the 2022 Browns at quarterback, due to the 24 civil suit allegations of sexual misconduct filed against quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Browns are going to need players to take significant steps forward in their development as NFL players and live up to the flashes of ability and talent they were acquired for.

This is undoubtedly a talented roster, but we know all too well that is not enough. It will take several key players to step forward for the 2022 Browns to accomplish the desired outcome. Although expectations may be modified based on who is under center, there will be expectations. The extent to which QB Jacoby Brissett, if Watson is suspended for a significant amount of time, can take this football team will greatly be determined by the ability of certain individuals to elevate their play.

Role: Wide Receiver 2

Player: Donovan Peoples-Jones

The Browns drafted People-Jones in the 6th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, highlighted by his game-winning touchdown catch against the Bengals. Expectations for a sixth-round draft pick probably became too ambitious after he put together a wildly impressive and consistent performance throughout the Browns 2021 Training Camp.

With expectations high for the team and People-Jones, his career-high statistics of 34 receptions, 597 yards and 3 TDs seemed rather pedestrian when factoring in the team’s underwhelming results and his borderline spectacular training camp.

The wide receiver room has changed drastically and if the Browns want to take their passing game to the next level, People-Jones has to fill the role of a legitimate number two wide receiver in the NFL. He has the size and athleticism. We have seen him make big plays. It is time for him to put it all together and be a weapon, a threat, the guy that makes “Cooper and People-Jones” a top tier 1 – 2 tandem among AFC wide receiver groups.

Teams are loaded with elite wide receiver talent all over the league and especially in the AFC. The Browns seem to really like their wide receiver room and it’s easy to see the potential. However, they are banking on multiple unproven players to be good this year including rookie David Bell.

A coming-out party for People-Jones would take a ton of pressure from the rest of the room and help legitimize Cleveland’s vision of an explosive pass game. In his third year in the NFL with the same offensive coaches and with all the athletic tools necessary, look for big things from People-Jones in 2022, because legit “big boy” NFL WR No. 2 things are needed.

If needed, Brissett needs to be at least as good as 2021 Mayfield

If Watson is suspended and Mayfield does not start those games, Brissett must keep the season afloat and at least match Mayfield’s 2021 performance until Watson returns:

The Cleveland Browns put themselves in a unique position this offseason. They traded for Deshaun Watson while having Baker Mayfield on the roster. With Watson’s 22 civil cases, the Browns may need another starter this year but their relationship with Mayfield seems tattered.

Mayfield’s one-year, $18.9 million contract has made a trade difficult.

Going into the offseason, Cleveland made it clear that they saw Mayfield as their starter unless a clear upgrade was available. Watson is that clear upgrade but could not be available for part of the upcoming season.

While it would make sense that Mayfield would step in during a Watson suspension, there seems to be some discord with the former starter in the locker room.

The Browns added Jacoby Brissett shortly after the Watson trade as the, assumed, backup for 2022.

If Watson is suspended and Mayfield is either not on the team or not used as the backup, Cleveland will need Brissett to at least match Mayfield’s performance in 2021.

Dealing with serious injury, Mayfield had his worst year as a pro but the team was still 6-8 in games he started. Completing just over 60% of his passes for 3,010 yards, the former top overall pick was inaccurate. His 17 touchdowns were his fewest as a pro while he added 13 interceptions in just 14 games.

Last year, with the Miami Dolphins, Brissett started five games. The Dolphins were 2-3 during those games as he completed 63% of his passes for 1283 yards. Like Mayfield, Brissett’s TD to INT ratio was underwhelming, 5:4.

In the two seasons he played the most, 2017 and 2019 with the Indianapolis Colts, Brissett averaged just under 60% completion with a combined 31 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Based on the 35 games he has started, Brissett’s performance was far from spectacular but compare favorably to the version of Mayfield seen on the field in 2021. While that would not be good enough to compete for the playoffs, it could be good enough to tread water during a potential Watson suspension.

Watson could avoid a suspension altogether or Mayfield could somehow start during a suspension but if Brissett is called upon he should be able to keep the ship afloat in 2022.

Browns may not (need to) add another receiver

While it is exciting to think about, it is not necessary for the Browns to acquire another receiver:

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The NFL has become a place where a team can never have enough weapons but the Cleveland Browns may not add another receiver to their current group. With the addition of Amari Cooper, the Browns have the following slotted behind their new #1 receiver:

It is an interesting and eclectic group of receivers with Cooper being the senior statesman while Grant and Wims also provide some veteran experience.

Schwartz was limited due to a concussion during his rookie year and is joined by rookies Bell, Woods and Weston as the youngsters at the position.

Somewhere in between are Peoples-Jones and Bradley who enter their third professional season.

From those nine names, five or six will make the team in 2022. Not a lot of space available for another veteran.

With Jarvis Landry leaving in free agency, many wondered if the team would address the position with a different veteran free agent. Deshaun Watson’s former teammate Will Fuller got a lot of attention while T.Y. Hilton and Julio Jones are big names available as well.

As discussed on 92.3 The Fan, and a mailbag piece by Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland may not be in the market for a veteran receiver. The team believes Watson can, and needs to, raise the play of his receivers and have to start planning for future salary cap needs. The rollover cap for this year essentially adds to the team’s salary cap total next year.

The Browns also have a lot of other weapons to deploy in a variety of ways. At tight end, recently extended David Njoku and Harrison Bryant are quality receiving threats. At running back, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton have all been weapons in the passing game.

While another receiver could be added, expecting it may be foolhardy.

2022 Browns schedule: Ranking the opposing quarterbacks

With the schedule release coming on Thursday, trying to rank all the QBs the Browns are likely to see in 2022:

While there have been some games officially revealed and others are reporting “leaks” of scheduled games, there are no official reports on the schedule for the Cleveland Browns for 2022. The full schedule will be released on Thursday but expect some official reporting on a few more games before then.

For now, we know who the Browns will face in 2022:

At Home

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • New York Jets
  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • New Orleans Saints
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • New England Patriots

On the Road

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Houston Texans
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Washington Commanders

So much can change between now and when Cleveland faces each of these teams. Injuries, poor performance, suspensions and a variety of unknown reasons could lead things to be different than expected.

Given what we do know, here is how we would rank the quarterbacks the Browns are set to meet in 2022:

Browns planning for a big year from WR Anthony Schwartz

Schwartz did not have a good rookie year but few receivers do. The Browns are expecting a jump from him in 2022, what are realistic expectations?

When the 2021 NFL season ended, almost every media member and fan had tagged the Cleveland Browns for taking a wide receiver early in the 2022 NFL draft. Then the team traded for Amari Cooper but released Jarvis Landry. The assumption of an early receiver remained.

The trade for Deshaun Watson cost the team their first-round pick, as well as multiple other picks, but it was still assumed that the team would draft a receiver early. Most mock drafts focused around George Pickens, Skyy Moore, Alec Pierce or a number of other pass catchers.

Instead, Cleveland waited until their last pick in the third round to draft David Bell out of Purdue. While Bell played outside a lot in college, the expectation is that he will play as a bigger slot receiver at the pro level.

That leaves the Browns with Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones as their top receivers going into 2022. For many fans, this was surprising and frustrating.

While Cleveland could still add a veteran to their team, they are counting on second-year pro Anthony Schwartz to fill some of that role:

Schwartz was a late third-round pick, like Bell, in 2021. He had a great first game for the team and then was most known for not attacking the ball that was intercepted and led to Baker Mayfield’s shoulder injury.

In 14 games, the Auburn speedster had just 10 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed the ball six times for 39 yards and four first downs. Of his 174 total yards, 86 of them came in Week 1 versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

Coming out of college, Schwartz was known for his world-class speed but the Mayfield injury and, later, a concussion limited his rookie campaign.

Outside of the top receivers drafted, rookie pass-catchers tend to struggle for the first couple of seasons. The nuance of the NFL game including making route adjustments on the fly can be very difficult.

Cleveland may be expecting a lot out of Schwartz this year but a moderate jump in stats may be more realistic. With Watson on board and more three-receiver sets, Schwartz should be able to triple his numbers while becoming a deep threat that opens things up underneath for his teammates.

Browns Playoff Hopes: Week 15 games that could be of impact

Six more games this week that Cleveland will have a specific rooting interest in related to their playoff chances:

The Cleveland Browns Week 15 game is postponed and still very little information about how many players might get activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list for the game. No matter what, Cleveland needs a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders especially now that their Christmas Day matchup with Green Bay got harder on a short week.

The Browns also would like to see help from a number of teams throughout Week 15 to make their chase for a playoff spot easier. That started on Thursday Night Football with the Los Angeles Chargers losing.

One down, six to go.

Here are the rest of the games and Cleveland’s desired outcome:

Saturday Night

Patriots vs Colts

At 9-4 and a likely division champion, the Browns are more interested in seeing New England keep up their winning ways Saturday. Indianapolis currently holds the tiebreaker over Cleveland so a loss would help knock them behind the Browns and impact their conference record, a key tiebreaker.

Sunday 1 PM

Panthers vs Bills

While unlikely, Cleveland is rooting for Carolina to beat Buffalo Sunday. The Bills have been hot and cold all year but are likely to have a bounce-back this week against a weak Panthers team. Like the Colts, a loss would drop the Bills behind the Browns but not impact the tiebreaker due to them playing an NFC team.

Jets vs Dolphins

Perhaps not a big one now but given the unstable nature of the league could be a big one down the road. Miami sits one game out of the playoffs, as well as some tiebreakers, so a loss would all but eliminate them from the discussion.

Titans vs Steelers

Another game where the division leader is the team the Browns are rooting for. In this case, Cleveland wants Tennesee to come out on top and, almost, bury Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes.

Sunday 4:05 PM

Broncos vs Bengals

Two 7-6 teams that currently lose tiebreakers to the Browns, Cleveland is rooting for Denver to knock of Cincinnati to make the route to the AFC North easier. Cleveland will also always win the tiebreaker against the Broncos but a late-season loss to the Bengals could change their tiebreaker advantage.

Packers vs Ravens

This one is pretty easy and pretty big for the Browns. As we shared earlier this week, a Baltimore loss to the Green Bay Packers and a Cleveland victory in Week 15 puts the Browns at the top of the AFC North. While unlikely because they are currently tied with two other teams for the top seed in the NFC, a Packers win could also give them less motivation against Cleveland on Christmas Day.

Browns playoff chances impacted by six Week 14 games

Your Week 14 Browns playoff rooting guide includes six games (Cleveland’s included) that could have them tied for the fifth-best record in the AFC:

The Cleveland Browns may not have to win out but at least four wins in their last five games will, most likely, be needed to secure a playoff spot. Currently slotted in the 11th seed, Cleveland will likely need a little bit of help to reach their goal.

As discussed previously, their three games against division foes will play a huge role in the end results. Winning them all, starting this week against the Baltimore Ravens, sets the Browns up with an important tiebreaker.

In a very parity-ridden AFC, Cleveland could also benefit from some help over the next five weeks. As we have done recently, we will continue to keep you up to date on all the games that could impact the Browns playoff chances.

For Week 14, there are six games, including their own, of note. As always, we assume a Cleveland win in their game:

Case Keenum: What he brings to the Browns vs. Broncos as Cleveland’s starting QB

Case Keenum: What he brings to the Browns vs. Broncos as Cleveland’s starting QB in place of an injured Baker Mayfield

Now that it’s officially Case Keenum time for the Browns, it’s time to try and remember what Case Keenum is as a quarterback. The new Browns starter, taking over for at least Week 7 for an injured Baker Mayfield, brings another interesting angle to Thursday night’s matchup with the visiting Denver Broncos.

Keenum, now 33, played in Denver as the Broncos starting quarterback for the 2018 season. It did not go well. Keenum threw for 3,890 yards and 18 touchdowns, but also tossed 15 interceptions and ranked 29th in average yards per attempt. Those Broncos finished 6-10 in part because Keenum was not enough of an upgrade over the Trevor Siemian/Brock Osweiler combination from the year before.

Broncos fans don’t remember Keenum fondly. Nor do Washington fans from the following season, where Keenum sputtered to a 1-7 record as a starter despite playing better than he did in Denver. He’s never been able to recapture the magic of his 2017 campaign with Minnesota, where he was brilliant with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski as his QB coach.

In that year, the hyper-efficient best of Keenum came out. He completed 67.6 percent of his passes, tossing 22 TDs against seven INTs after usurping oft-injured Sam Bradford. The Browns are hoping this version of Keenum resurfaces on Thursday night. And if he does, they have a chance.

Keenum doesn’t have a big arm, nor is he a big guy capable of taking a lot of physical punishment. But he’s very good at taking what the defense gives him and at keeping the trains running on time, in a football context. The accuracy, the decision-making, the ability to create a little when the protection breaks down, these are qualities Keenum displays well at his best.

There is no question he knows Stefanski’s offense, and he’s been in Cleveland long enough to have some chemistry with the receiving corps. As long as the Browns don’t ask him to play “hero ball” and try to win games by making difficult throws into tight coverage, Keenum can be fine. He’s generally regarded as one of the NFL’s top backup quarterbacks for good reason.

Where fans will notice the biggest dropoff from Mayfield to Keenum is in the deep passing game. Keenum just doesn’t have the downfield velocity or accuracy when he has to uncork the deeper throws. Based on his history, Keenum isn’t as apt to look for those downfield shots, either. That constricts an offense that will already be without top RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and perhaps without both starting tackles once again.

One of the reasons Mayfield works in Stefanski’s offense is his aggressiveness on deeper options and willingness to let it fly if a play goes off-script. Keenum can’t do that. As long as he’s not completely rusted over from inactivity, Keenum will do well enough operating the base offense. Hopefully that will be enough against a banged-up Broncos defense to squeak out a victory for the injury-ravaged Browns.