Cleveland Browns: 5 players who will break out in 2021

Five Cleveland Browns players who are primed for big seasons

The Cleveland Browns boast a roster of established players and have Super Bowl expectations for 2021, but in order to reach that goal, they’ll of course need to be better than they were last year. Players taking the next step in their development is crucial, and this is a fantastic situation to do just that. Here are five candidates to have a breakout campaign.

5. CB Greedy Williams

Williams missed all of 2020 due to a nerve issue in his shoulder, and that combined with the team’s selection of Greg Newsome II in the first round, has led many to write off Williams as a backup, at best.

Yet, Williams’s rookie year was a lot better than many remember, and rookie cornerbacks tend to struggle. Williams is technically the incumbent CB2, and he’ll have a chance to defend that job. He was medically cleared in March and was a participant in OTAs and minicamp, and whole that’s no guarantee he performs well after a year off, he does have a legitimate shot at starting over Newsome.

Williams has a ton to prove. Returning from a serious injury and playing well won’t be easy. But he’s talented enough, and has enough good film, to do just that. If he does, the Browns will be left with three starting-caliber outside CBs (assuming Newsome pans out), which would be a great problem to have.

Ultimately, health is the main issue here, and the Browns have seemingly operated throughout the offseason viewing Williams as a bonus, not relying on him coming back strong. That was the wise thing to do, but the third-year man could surprise.