5 Cleveland Browns who could take a step back in 2021

3. Jarvis Landry

In terms of pure ability, perhaps Jarvis Landry will be better in 2021. He will hopefully not have to be recovering from offseason hip surgery, or play through broken ribs. But in the best interest of the team, his role would not be what it has been for three years now, and his role is what could and should regress.

The Browns run the ball a lot, more than most teams. They have the best running back in the league, and arguably another of the top 10, so they should run often. That means when they throw the ball, efficiency and explosiveness must reign supreme, and Landry provides neither.

Odell Beckham Jr. is coming back, Rashard Higgins was fantastic in 2020, and the team drafted the fastest deep threat in the class. Landry has put up volume numbers for his entire career, yet as a primary target, does not command respect from even average secondaries.

The hope is that with a smaller role and more threatening receivers to take attention away, Landry will be more effective, closer to his 2019 season, but on significantly fewer targets. Quality over quantity, and performance over reputation. The Browns did run more 11-personnel late in the season, and Landry as the slot with two deep threats on the outside is his best chance at being effective.