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5 Bold predictions for Cleveland Browns 2021 season ahead of training camp

By Randy Gurzi

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns prepares to call for the snap against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns prepares to call for the snap against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Mack Wilson, Cleveland Browns. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

With the draft and most of free agency behind us, the Cleveland Browns are now focused on the 2021 season and we have 5 bold predictions ahead of camp

Once again, we are going to have an offseason that’s primarily virtual which means there won’t be a whole lot of news to dissect with the Cleveland Browns between the end of the 2021 NFL Draft and the start of training camp later this summer.

The good news is, we don’t feel the nervousness we did from a year ago when we were wondering how a new scheme would be implemented virtually since we’re in the second season with Kevin Stefanski running the offense and Joe Woods on defense.

With that being the case, we can now focus more on what they will do to improve upon their 11-wins from 2020. Here, we look ahead to the upcoming season and offer up five bold predictions for what could be on the horizon.

5.  One of the startling linebackers from 2020 is released

Cleveland made it clear that they wanted to be better at linebacker this coming season. They not only signed Anthony Walker in free agency, but they also drafted Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the second round and Tony Fields II in the sixth.

Both rookies fit this defensive scheme perfectly and Walker might have been their most underrated signing of the offseason. Throw in second-year player Jacob Phillips who played well at times as a rookie, and that’s four players hand-picked by Andrew Berry for Joe Woods’ defense.

That brings us to the question of Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson. Suddenly, the path to the 53-man roster is much more difficult for them since we are looking at a defense that plans to use just two linebackers in their base.

This means, for the two remaining starters from 2020 (B.J. Goodson was the third) their key to making the team will be special teams. Wilson has no real experience here, which gives Takitaki the edge — as does his much lower missed tackle rate.

Either way, one of these two will likely be out in 2021.

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