Cleveland Browns defense ranks high in quarterly report card

Cleveland Browns offensive grade: B

Through the first four games of the 2021 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns offense has made positive plays. The primary focus, just like in 2020, has been on the running game, and with arguably (no argument here) the best running back duo in the league in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the backfield, it’s hard not to focus so much on that style of offense.

The tight end play has also been a very positive aspect of the Browns offense so far this season. Tight ends David Njoku, Austin Hooper, and Harrison Bryant are all performing well in their respective aspects by securing blocks on the outside of the line when needed in the run game while also helping quarterback Baker Mayfield keep drives alive with their sure hands in the passing game.

When you look at the offense overall, it features the running backs and tight ends heavily, and Cleveland has the perfect personnel to take advantage of that style of offense. Sadly, though, the best pass catchers on this team probably currently exist in these two positions as well, as the wide receivers have underperformed thus far.

With Odell Beckham Jr. missing the start of the season recovering from knee surgery, Jarvis Landry was unable to help lift a receiving unit that was in need of a leader on the field. Now that Landry is hurt, and OBJ is back on the field, Mayfield still is having issues finding a true number one target at wide receiver. The best receiver thus far has been Rashard Higgins, who was expected to be a reserve player at wide receiver this year. That should be all that needs to be said about that unit.

That leaves us with the offensive line and quarterback play. The former has been pretty solid all season, even with starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. missing action in almost every game this season with a nagging ankle injury. The latter, however, has been a bit of a roller coaster already, something that Browns fans are used to hearing from a man named Mayfield.

After a rather sizzling start to the season in Week 1, Mayfield’s play has declined each and every week, with his most recent performance being among the worst in his career. The old saying “he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn” is putting it nicely for how he faired against the Minnesota Vikings, who unlike Vikings teams of old, aren’t known for their defense.

While it’s way too soon to overreact and say that Mayfield is done and can’t be the long-term option at quarterback in Cleveland, it has to be asked if this is just who Mayfield is. He could lead his team with 350 passing yards one week and miss almost every pass the next, but fans have to take the good with the bad because when he’s on his game, it’s one of the most electrifying things for this team.

If Baker Mayfield can return to his play of the first few weeks of the season, and the receiving unit can find its form to provide some sort of help on the outside for him, the offensive grade can go way higher. For now, however, the Browns have to stick with being among the best rushing attack in the league and hope that it’s enough to get them where they want to go.