Ranking Baker Mayfield’s top-5 Cleveland Browns targets in 2020
Training camp is underway and Cleveland Browns fans are growing anxious to see their team take the field.
Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait just over a month for the regular season to begin in order to see the Browns in action since the NFL canceled the preseason but that’s not going to dampen the excitement, or hopes, of this fan base.
And Cleveland fans have plenty of reasons to be excited. They’re entering 2020 with the strongest roster they have had in years and a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski who has proven he knows how to get the most out of his talent.
Of course, what will really matter is what he can do with Baker Mayfield. The Browns quarterback is entering his third season in the NFL and after playing exceptionally well as a rookie, Mayfield took a major step back in 2019.
Not all was his fault though as former head coach Freddie Kitchens clearly struggled to formulate an effective gameplan. Mayfield also had no time to set his feet and read defenses thanks to their shoddy offensive line play — which should be better now that they signed Jack Conklin and drafted Jedrick Wills.
With a coach known for improving his quarterback’s effectiveness (see Kirk Cousins under Stefanski in 2019) and a revamped line, there’s no reason to think Mayfield won’t be able to improve. And the best part is, he already has the weapons in the passing game, meaning as long as Stefanski and the tackles do their part, this should be a much better season for No. 6.
Having said all that, we look over the Browns roster and identify the five best weapons Mayfield will have at his disposal in 2020.
5. Nick Chubb, Running Back
Coming into the NFL in 2018, the scouting report on Nick Chubb suggested he wouldn’t contribute much at all in the passing game. If you were to simply look at his collegiate numbers, there’s clearly a reason to think that.
Following an 18-reception rookie campaign, Chubb had no more than five receptions in a season — with a grand total of 13 — in the three years that followed. However, the fact that the Georgia Bulldogs didn’t use him in the passing game didn’t mean he couldn’t be used as a receiver. And as a rookie, he showed off some of his skills in this area which proved his low numbers in college were more of a product of their system than his abilities.
Chubb finished with 20 receptions for 149 yards with two touchdowns as a rookie for the Browns and had an impressive contested catch against the Cincinnati Bengals that made the rounds when it came to the highlight reels. He followed that up with 36 receptions for 278 yards in his second season — compared to just 31 receptions in four seasons at UGA.
Heading into 2021, Chubb will continue to make his money by running between the tackles but he’s still one of the five best passing options on this team in 2020.
4. Kareem Hunt, Running Back
While Nick Chubb has been questioned about his skill as a receiver, Kareem Hunt has never had that issue. The No. 2 running back for the Cleveland Browns, Hunt is well-known for his skill in this area and despite spending the first half of the 2019 season suspended, he still proved he can be a threat in the passing game in the second half.
In those eight games, Hunt had 44 passes thrown his way and he pulled in 37 of them for an impressive catch rate of 84.1 percent — which ironically enough ties his rookie season when he had the same exact percentage after catching 53 of 63 passes.
Like Chubb, Hunt is also great at running between the tackles, evidenced by him leading the NFL in rushing in 2017 as a rookie for the Kansas City Chiefs. That year, he had 1,327 yards but added another 455 in the passing game. Before being released in the 2018 season for his off-field issues, Hunt had another 824 yards rushing and 378 receiving — with seven touchdowns in 11 games.
Now entering his fourth NFL season, he’s looking to prove himself both on and off the field as he seeks a long-term contract. While his talent as a runner is going to help in that regard, it’s his skill as a receiver that could really put him over the top.
3. Austin Hooper, Tight End
The Cleveland Browns entered this offseason with a desperate need on the offensive line which made it very unsurprising to see them go after Jack Conklin. The former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle helped them tremendously and was considered a target since before the free agency period began.
However, Conklin wasn’t their only high-profile signing on offense as general manager Andrew Berry also found a way to land former Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper. The third-round pick from Stanford was given a four-year deal worth $44 million which made him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
Hooper enters 2020 off his best season as a pro as he hauled in 75 passes for 787 yards and six touchdowns — all of which were career-highs for him. He did this even with there being several other targets on the Falcons offense which included Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley — as well as Mohamed Sanu for seven games before he was traded to the New England Patriots.
In Cleveland’s offense, Hooper will have the same issues as there will be several options ahead of him. For that reason, the talented tight end comes in as just the No. 3 option for quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has shown a propensity for targeting tight ends early on in his career, especially in the red zone.
Expect Hooper to quickly become a star in this offense as the Browns have a guy capable of providing a security blanket for Mayfield, helping him avoid the deep shot risks he took far too often as a sophomore quarterback.
2. Odell Beckham, Jr., Wide Receiver
For more than a year the Browns were flirting with Odell Beckham, Jr. It started in 2018 when he was working out with his good friend Jarvis Landry — who had just joined Cleveland — as well as Tyrod Taylor and Davids Njoku. Later, he was working with Baker Mayfield as well, which had the rumors going full-speed ahead.
Then in 2019, it became a reality as former general manager John Dorsey gave up a haul for OBJ, sending starting safety Jabrill Peppers along with a first and third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. With Beckham joining an offense that ended 2018 on a high note, expectations were through the roof.
Sadly, it was a letdown once the season got rolling. Beckham struggled to find a rapport with Mayfield and was also dealing with some lingering core muscle injuries. He still finished with 1,035 yards on 74 receptions but his talent level suggests he should have done more. He even agrees with that as he’s come out this offseason saying he’s refocused and ready to put 2019 behind him.
He’s also fully healthy after undergoing surgery to address the injuries he struggled through. Of course, all the talk this offseason is just that until we see Beckham on the field. And until he proves he can be the player he was early in his career, he comes in as the No. 2 option behind someone he knows very well.
1. Jarvis Landry, Wide Receiver
Having Odell Beckham, Jr. as the No. 2 passing option for Baker Mayfield isn’t meant as an insult to him or his talent. The fact is, Beckham has been one of the more electric receivers in the NFL for years, and even during a frustrating season in 2019, he was able to put up more than 1,000-yards. In the end, the only reason he comes in at No. 2 is simply that Jarvis Landry has been the Browns best receiver since joining the team in 2018.
And really, this shouldn’t be a shock when you look at his career. A former teammate of Beckham’s at LSU, Landry entered the NFL the same season as Beckham (2014) and has done nothing but haul in a ton of passes. In fact, CBS HQ even tweeted out that he is the only player to ever catch more than 80 passes and gain more than 700 yards receiving in each of his first six seasons.
"“Keep thinking Jarvis Landry doesn’t deserve a seat at the table. Landry is the ONLY player in NFL history to record at least 80 receptions and 700 receiving yards in each of his first 6 seasons.” — CBS Sports HQ"
https://twitter.com/CBSSportsHQ/status/1284696089841606656?s=20
In 2019, Landry led the Browns with 83 receptions for 1,174 yards and six touchdowns. That gives him a total of 164 catches for 2,150 yards and 10 touchdowns in his two seasons in Cleveland meaning he’s not only effective but he’s also wildly consistent.
Also, Landry enters this season hoping to be even better than he was a year ago. Like OBJ, Landry dealt with nagging injuries all season and while he missed no games (and still never has in his career) he was slowed down by a hip problem.
He had surgery to fix his hip and while he started training camp on the PUP list, Landry is expected to be full speed by the time the regular season begins and has already been activated off the list.
And once it does, don’t be surprised to see him still serving as the No. 1 target for the Browns considering his consistency and the great rapport he and Baker Mayfield have with one another.