Which Cleveland Browns are on a ‘Prove-It’ season?
By Shane Carter
Last Chance?
Axel Rose once said, “All we need is a little patience.” For the better part of two decades, the Browns organization and its fans have all but lost theirs and its about to pay off. Some players are still on that last leg.
The organization either traded, signed or drafted them to be starters or key contributors but have yet to make that impact and with what looks like the most skilled team the Browns have ever assembled, patience is running thin.
Austin Corbett is agent 0. As of today, he’s been one of the only picks from the coveted 2018 draft class last year to make an impact.
As part of the big Odell Beckham Jr. trade, right guard Kevin Zeitler was included and was supposed to be the team’s way of throwing Corbett into the role. But with veteran Eric Kush outplaying him, and with Corbett not really finding a role on the line, it’s hard to justify the pick thus far.
Kareem Hunt goes here as well. He was previously mentioned for trying to earn a new deal on the team but he’s already got high expectations and will miss the first eight games while Nick Chubb, who’s become a fan favorite and would likely remain the starter even once Hunt is reinstated.
It’s probably not fair to Hunt to expect big things with only half a season to prove it, but he only has himself to blame for it.
He’s a two-time Pro Bowl payer and was the league rushing champion in 2017. He hasn’t even taken a snap yet for Cleveland but his future, right now, is one big question mark.
Lastly, Drew Stanton. He’s 35 and is getting serious competition from former AAF MVP Garrett Gilbert.
In the first preseason game, Stanton threw fewer passes, but also only completed 38.5 percent of his passes. In fact, in his career, he’s only ever completed 52.4 percent of his passes.
He’s been a dependable backup his whole career and was brought in to help Baker Mayfield with progression and how to play the position in the pros.
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Now that Mayfield seems to have a grasp of it, the team might decide that not only is only two quarterbacks necessary, but a younger, cheaper, better fit player would be the preferred option.