The Cleveland Browns aren’t usually well-represented on NFL Network’s Top 100 list, but that may change with the young talent currently on the team.
NFL Network is currently in the midst of revealing its Top 100 list, ranking the 100 best players in the NFL as voted on by the players themselves.
As usual, the Browns don’t figure to be featured much during the countdown.
Last year saw both Joe Thomas and Gary Barnidge make the list, but Thomas seems like the only Browns player who will make it this season.
With the team going through the current rebuilding process, there is clearly a lack of star power. However, the influx of young talent will hopefully help turn things around. And if that doesn’t happen, well, we won’t even get into that right now.
Browns fans are investing a great deal of hope in players who have yet to play a single snap in the NFL, and in others who have just one year of experience. It is all we can do during this rebuilding process, but it doesn’t mean the hope has gone away.
The hope and optimism being placed in these young players will hopefully result in some of them ending up on future Top 100 lists. The following slides break down five players who have a great shot to end up amongst the best in the NFL, and who will hopefully help change the narrative surrounding the franchise in the near future.
Myles Garrett has not yet played a down for the Browns, but the mention of his name still puts a smile on the faces of Browns fans. This year’s No. 1 overall pick comes to Cleveland not as a savior, but rather a key piece in turning this team around.
Garrett is a physical specimen who can easily be on the Top 100 list next year if he makes an impact during his rookie season. All it will take is for him to dominate an opposing blocker and the votes for Garrett’s inclusion on the list will pile up fast.
The star power that comes along with him will help his chances as well, as every big play he makes this season will be shown on national highlight shows.
But Garrett must still produce solid numbers to be considered one of the best in the NFL, while he also has to prove he is the best defensive lineman in Cleveland. He is facing some stiff competition against Emmanuel Ogbah and Danny Shelton, who have each done their part to help improve the defensive front. A new scheme and the inclusion of Garrett should only continue the improvement process.
So while Garrett’s name brings publicity, he still must produce in his rookie season. Reaching the mark of 10.5 sacks achieved by Joey Bosa in 2016 would be plenty for Garrett’s name to end up on the Top 100 list in 2017. Add in a few forced fumbles and a big hit on Big Ben and Garrett’s star will only continue to rise.
Jabrill Peppers is an interesting player. While he is coming to the Browns to primarily play safety, he is also likely going to be returning both kicks and punts in 2017.
Oh, and he may also play on offense as well. But he is still a safety.
Peppers’ ability to be dynamic in every facet of the game is why he could easily rise to be considered one of the best players in the NFL. He may not be a superstar on defense, but if he can provide solid play on offense, defense and special teams, his value can hardly be measured.
Ultimately, Peppers must play his best on defense. Unless he is returning a punt for a touchdown every single game, his play on defense is going to be where his true worth is determined.
While he can provide flashy, exciting plays on offense and on special teams, he is going to spend most of his time on defense. And if he flops as a safety, his occasional play at the other positions won’t be enough for him to be considered one of the top players in the game.
But it is way too early to assume Peppers can’t have a solid career as a safety in the NFL. If he can limit his mistakes and help what was a shaky secondary a season ago, while also providing a few touchdowns on special teams and offense, he will quickly see his name rise to be considered among the best in the game.
Last year’s 1-15 season was painful to watch, but there were some bright spots. Emmanuel Ogbah was one of those.
Ogbah was a force along the defensive front all season, picking up 5.5 sacks in what was a horrible year for much of the unit.
He stood out as the top defensive draft pick over the likes of Carl Nassib, Derrick Kindred and Joe Schobert, cementing his place in the starting lineup even after the Browns drafted Myles Garrett.
Ogbah now needs to build upon the success he had a year ago, and he should be helped now that there is more talent along the line. Garrett may be drawing double-teams on one end throughout the year, opening some lanes for Ogbah. The same goes for Danny Shelton, who is a force who may require extra attention from the opposing offensive linemen.
Increasing his sack total would be the first step to gaining more recognition, but just doing the basics and stopping the run and not missing tackles would also go a long way toward not only improving his own reputation, but that of the entire defense.
Some big plays up front from Ogbah and the rest of the defensive line will help change the culture of the defense, while also allowing him to stand out as one of the better defenders in the league.
It is tough to judge Corey Coleman‘s rookie season. A broken hand and a carousel of quarterbacks did nothing to help his development, essentially making 2016 a wasted season.
Coleman was the team’s first-round pick a year ago, and has a lot of pressure on him as the Browns traded down twice to select him, passing up on the chance to draft Carson Wentz at No. 2 overall.
He did flash some greatness in a Week 2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, when he and Josh McCown connected for two touchdown passes in the first quarter. But an injury to McCown followed by one to Coleman derailed any offensive highlights for much of the remaining 14 games.
Yet Coleman still enters 2017 as the team’s No. 1 receiver, and will be relied upon to be the main playmaker now that Terrelle Pryor is no longer a member of the Browns. A lot of his success will depend on the play at quarterback, but Coleman also has a responsibility to help out whoever is under center.
A 1,000-yard season with eight or so touchdowns could put Coleman’s name among some of the rising stars at the receiving position, and a few seasons in a row with that production would easily put him on the Top 100 list in future years. But it all starts with the upcoming season, which may determine his future with the team.
The trade that sent Jamie Collins to the Browns last season surprised not only Browns fans, but fans all over the NFL.
Bill Belichick lost interest in moving forward with Collins, trading him to the Browns for next to nothing. Collins was about to hit the free agent market, so the goal of the trade for the Browns was clearly to keep him here long-term.
The Browns did just that by signing Collins to a four-year, $50 million deal that makes him the face of the defense for the foreseeable future. Well, at least until Myles Garrett starts dominating.
Collins only played eight games with the Browns in 2016, and the horrible record made it hard to determine how great he can be. There were instances where he looked like a star, and others when he appeared to not be giving it his all, although that may just be an interpretation of his play made out of frustration for how bad the team was.
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Regardless, Collins is already recognized as one of the better young linebackers in the league. If he can lead the charge along with Garrett to turn this defense around, he will easily end up on the Top 100 list in 2018.