4 players who will propel Cleveland Browns into 2020 NFL playoffs

2. Olivier Vernon, Defensive End

Olivier Vernon was brought over from the Giants in an attempt to create a two-headed monster with him and Myles Garrett on the defensive line. While that hasn’t exactly come to fruition, Vernon has still shown flashes of greatness at times.

While Myles Garrett was inactive after contracting COVID-19, Olivier Vernon stepped up nicely while racking up three sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles. It began to seem like once Garrett returned, they would create an unstoppable pass rush.

However, last week in Garrett’s return to the field, Vernon completely disappeared. Vernon played every defensive snap but did not record a single tackle for the entire game. Olivier Vernon has the talent to defeat double-teams and strike fear into opposing offensive tackles, but he can go stretches without doing anything.

Now, in the home stretch of the season, Vernon’s talent will show. If Vernon can produce, it will also open up easier routes for Garrett to the quarterback, creating a defensive line that is almost impossible to block.

The one-two combo of Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon coming off of the edge can cause many problems for opposing quarterbacks. That, along with an improved Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi, is something that could propel the Browns deep into the playoffs.