Cleveland Browns: Stock rises for Grant Delpit, plummets for John Johnson

While the Cleveland Browns were eliminated from playoff contention this week player’s stock rose for Grant Delpit and tanked for John Johnson

The weather was ugly, the temperatures were brutally cold, and the winds were horrible in the Cleveland Browns loss to the visiting New Orleans Saints 17-10 this past weekend.

While the weather did play a factor in the game, some Browns players excelled while others continue to ride out the season with little effort. Cleveland is standing at 6-9 now on the season and has been eliminated from playoff contention. Much of those poor results have to do with too many players making mistakes and not staying engaged when they are out on the playing field.

Let’s take a look at a few of those disappointing players but also give props to those Browns that are still trying to help the team win.

Cleveland Browns player stock up: Grant Delpit, S

Grant Delpit started the team off on the right foot when he intercepted a pass in the first quarter that he ran back 40 yards putting the Browns in excellent field position. From there, the offense went on the score their first touchdown and take a 7-0 lead over the Saints.

Delpit finished with seven tackles on the day and has been one bright spot in the secondary of a rather inconsistent group this season.

The youngster from LSU will be heading into his fourth season in 2023 with Cleveland. He was injured for all of 2020 but has made steady progress in this his second full season with the team.

He’s recorded 95 tackles, had two interceptions, and knocked down eight passes. It will be interesting to see if the team chooses to extend his contract this offseason before he becomes a free agent in 2024.

Cleveland Browns player stock down: David Njoku, TE

During pregame, like in previous games, David Njoku came out on the field shirtless to warm up. It was six degrees and windchills were -20 but that didn’t stop the brash tight end from making a scene.

Maybe he feels the shirtless warm-up is supposed to give him the upper hand and make him play better. While Njoku has had some good games this season, like his performance against the Cincinnati Bengals where he caught seven passes for 59 yards and a touchdown, he’s mostly been a non-factor on Sundays.

Against the Saints, he was targeted five times and only caught two passes for 14 yards. The most important pass to come his way, — which he inexcusably dropped — was a perfect throw from Deshaun Watson in the closing seconds of the game that would have been a touchdown and likely tied the game.

For the season, Njoku now has 53 catches for 565 yards. He could outdo his career-best 2018 season when he finished with 56 catches and 639 yards, but in the end, he’s failed to live up to his expensive price tag.

Cleveland Browns stock up: Cade York, K

Cade York made up for a couple of missed field goals in the previous week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens by connecting on a field goal and an extra point the day. With wind, blowing snow and poor field conditions being an issue all game, it was good to see York connect.

He’s now 23-of-31 on the season, it hasn’t turned out to be the best year for the rookie kicker from LSU. However, he’ll have a lot of room for improvement next season.

Being a kicker in Cleveland can certainly be a tough gig, especially learning how to kick consistently at First Energy Stadium where “wind tunnels” and sudden shifts in the direction of the wind are typically the norm. The fourth-round draft pick can hopefully continue to gain more confidence as the season wraps up.

Cleveland Browns stock down: John Johnson III, S

John Johnson has been a disappointment again this season. In this latest game against the Saints, while Johnson had six tackles, he again played with the lackluster effort that has been on display pretty much all year long.

In the second half of Week 16, when the Saints scored their go-ahead touchdown to go up 17-10 Johnson can be seen standing and allowing the running back to walk into the end zone without giving any type of effort.

That play and effort had fans a bit upset and pointed out on various social media platforms after the game. Johnson didn’t help himself by commenting back on that particular play through social media. It’s unfortunate that the situation panned out the way that it did but there’s little evidence to suggest that Johnson gave it all of his efforts.

Johnson’s contract runs through the 2024 season, however, there’s an option to get out of the deal after this year. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Browns move on and look for other options at safety.

While he was considered a potential leader of the defense it’s not gone that way and he’s been more of a distraction to this team’s defense as he’s shared his frustrations as the season has moved on.

Cleveland Browns stock up: Nick Chubb, RB

Nick Chubb gained more than 90 yards in each of the last two games as he has closed in on one of the best seasons of his career. In the game against New Orleans, he finished with 24 carries for 91 yards.

With Cleveland now out of the playoff picture it will be interesting to see if the Browns play Chubb in the last two games of the season — or maybe even limit his touches. They may give their rookie back Jerome Ford a good look and rest Chubb.

Currently, Chubb has gained 1,344 yards and it’s only 151 yards from topping his best season in 2019 where he gained 1,494 yards.

Next year could be huge for Chubb because of where he may land historically on the Cleveland leading rushers rankings. He’s totaled 6,160 yards and if he can have another good season will likely move to second place, where once-great Leroy Kelly sits now with 7,274 yards. That would leave Jim Brown the only player ahead of Chubb all time in Browns’ history.

Cleveland Browns stock down: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR

Donovan Peoples-Jones has had a really good season to this point but against New Orleans, he was nonexistent and dropped a potential game-tying touchdown pass. Unlike Njoku’s drop moments later, DPJ‘s was a much more difficult attempt while trying to grab the pass in the back corner of the end zone.

Overall, the game was one of his worst performances of the season having only caught one pass for two yards. Overall, DPJ has been solid with 58 catches for 785 yards.

But in a game where the Browns needed some big catches, DPJ dropped a very big opportunity. That brings up questions again as to whether or not he can be a legitimate No. 2 wide receiver across from Amari Cooper.