Cleveland Browns: 5 obstacles to success in 2018

How quickly will wide receiver roles be defined?

The Browns were aggressive this off season. The biggest acquisition, and possibly the most controversial, was Jarvis Landry. One would think that acquiring a Pro-Bowl receiver like Landry would be met with universal praise. But there were some fans who did not like the trade or the subsequent signing of Landry.

The question was over what exactly his skill set was and what his role will be. Landry primarily played slot receiver for the Miami Dolphins. The case against Landry is that he will makes catches then get tackled just before the first down marker. This essentially made him a check down option that defenses were willing to give to get the offense off the field.

But Landry is roughly the same size as Antonio Brown. From interviews and press conferences one can glean that Landry is being primed to play that Antonio Brown role for the Browns. But does his skill set allow him to play that role?

Can Landry be more than a possession slot receiver? Some argue that he was in that position because that was all he could be. The Browns are gambling that Landry was not used properly and can be a major weapon when given the ball in space.

If Landry can play a No. 1 wide receiver role, then where does that leave the likes of Josh Gordon and others? If Landry proves he really is a possession slot receiver, then the Browns will have a lot of re-arranging to do with wide receiver roles mid-season.

Next: Looking at the QB situation

These obstacles will be on display come the 2018 season. With a little luck all these issues will fall in the Browns favor and the team will excel. But how these issues play out will determine how the season flows for the Browns.