Consistency is the key to anything successful in life and that is no different in the NFL. If you don't get consistent play, it could mark a season that ends without a playoff berth. That's certainly going to be the case with the Cleveland Browns this season.
The three players on this list represent all phases of the ball and could be the key to getting above .500 for the first time since 2020. If Cleveland can get these three players to be more consistent in 2023, the vision of dancing in the postseason could come to fruition.
Here are the three players who need to be more consistent in 2023.
3. Browns Kicker, Cade York
Whether fair or not, when the Browns drafted Cade York in the fourth round of last year's NFL Draft, there were massive expectations placed on his shoulders. While he didn't have a bad season per se, he could be more consistent in 2023.
York finished his rookie campaign knocking home 24-of-32 field goals, which isn't necessarily bad, but there's still room for improvement. He went a perfect 5-for-5 from 20-29 yards, 9-of-12 from 30-39 yards, 6-of-8 from 40-49 yards, and 6-of-8 from 50-plus yards. He did convert on 35-of-37 extra points.
He was touted for having a strong leg coming out of LSU and that was on full display in Week 1 when he booted a game-winning 58-yard field goal to beat the Baker Mayfield-led Carolina Panthers. Of course, this propelled him up the Browns' folklore list, but he wasn't as consistent for someone who was drafted as high as he was, especially at that position.
New special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said that York can get better and that he and the coaching staff will coach him up.
York had some misses that proved costly to the Browns in 2022, so if he can get his accuracy up and be a more consistent kicker, this team could pull out some of those close games in 2023.
2. Browns Linebacker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
When Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah fell to the Browns at pick 52 in the 2021 NFL Draft, many fans and the organization were jumping for joy. He was an incredible pick at that spot as he was perceived to be a first-round talent, but a heart issue scared many teams away.
JOK possesses a ton of speed and athleticism and some even think he is more of a hybrid between a linebacker and a safety. His versatility could be put on full display in 2023 under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
One thing JOK needs to do this upcoming season is to be more consistent, especially with his durability. He missed six games last year (including the final four games of the season) and three his rookie season. On the flip side of that and to be fair to him, the Browns linebacker room was dismantled with injuries in 2022, which is why they have serious interest in Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson.
This isn't to replace JOK by any means, but more so to add some depth to a room depleted a season ago. Simpson could be a nice complementary player next to JOK.
Had Owusu-Koramoah been healthy in 2022, he likely would have ended with better stats than he had as a rookie. Last season he finished with 70 tackles (45 solo and seven for a loss) as opposed to 76 (49/three) in 2021. He had four pass deflections and two forced fumbles in both seasons and had 1.5 sacks as a rookie.
Under Schwartz, JOK could enhance his stats and for the sake of a potential playoff berth, the Browns will need more consistency out of the third-year player. If he can be what many think he can be, then the sky will be the limit for him and this team.
1. Browns Tight End, David Njoku
When fans think of tight end David Njoku, they think he's one of the elite tight ends in the NFL today. For as much as we all love the Chief, let's be honest, he isn't at that level — and that isn't a knock to him.
Njoku has proven he can be a reliable pass catcher and he really buckled down and become a good blocking tight end, but he lacks consistency.
Last season wasn't bad for Njoku, catching 58 passes (a career-high) for 628 yards, and four touchdowns, equaling his career-high from three other seasons. He had a five-game stretch early in the season where he caught 30 passes for 379 yards and one touchdown.
Unfortunately, he would miss the next two games due to injury. He wasn't quite the same after that as he only eclipsed the 50-yard plateau just one time, in a 23-10 Week 13 loss to the Bengals. He also scored a touchdown in that game.
This season, Njoku will have Deshaun Watson throwing him the ball all season, as opposed to just six games a season ago. There will be a full offseason program to get in sync with Watson, which could mean good things for the Browns.
The ball is going to be spread around this season, so Njoku's numbers might not surpass those of a season ago, but that doesn't mean he can't be better and more consistent. He will have wide receivers Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore (who was acquired via trade), and free-agent signing Marquise Goodwin.
If those receivers are doing their thing, it could open up more opportunities for Njoku to see the ball. Nick Chubb will also see his fair share of touches so the blocking will yet again be crucial for this team to succeed.
Njoku isn't on the level of Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews, but he doesn't have to be either of those players to be a consistent player that contributes to a hopeful playoff team. He said he put on some muscle weight, which is a scary thought for opposing defenders.
The Browns went out and signed tight end Jordan Atkins, which could mean the end of Harrison Bryant in Cleveland, which would mean Njoku would be on the field even more, which opens up more chances for targets.