Training camp starts for the Cleveland Browns on July 24 as the team will meet at The Greenbrier in West Virginia once again. They'll eventually return to Berea, where they will have six open practices.
The goal is to get better than they were in 2023, which won't be easy. Despite suffering through several injuries, the Browns were 11-6 last year and that has them looking at a high bar. If they're going to meet expectations, they'll need their stars to rise to the occasion. They're also going to need more from these four players who could turn out to be unsung heroes in 2024.
4. Jordan Akins, Tight End
Signed to a two-year deal ahead of the 2023 campaign, Jordan Akins was seen as a potential hidden gem. He spent five years with the Houston Texans, even returning in 2022 after briefly signing with the New York Giants. Akins was coming off his best season as a pro with 495 yards and five touchdowns and had experience working with Deshaun Watson.
Unfortunately, the first year wasn't as strong as it seemed it would be. Akins finished with just 15 receptions for 132 yards and a career-low 8.8 yards per reception. Thankfully David Njoku had enough production for multiple tight ends but with Harrison Bryant gone — and no real experienced options to back up Njoku — Akins needs to provide more this season.
He has the talent to do so and perhaps a healthy Watson could make all the difference. They won't need Akins to put up huge numbers but if he can simply be a reliable weapon, especially in the red zone the way Bryant was, he will make an impact.
3. Nyheim Hines, Running Back/Kick Returner
Losing Nick Chubb hurt the Browns more than any other injury in 2023. The leader of the offense was on a roll through six quarters before his ACL and MCL were torn on a low hit from Minkah Fitzpatrick and the ground game was never the same.
Jerome Ford managed 813 rushing yards and 319 more through the air but he was often too reliant on the big play. That's why Cleveland signed D'Onta Foreman this offseason to join their running back committee. With no timeline yet for Chubb's return, Foreman is expected to have a large role in the offense.
Foreman isn't the only running back they added though as the Browns also signed Nyheim Hines. Entering his seventh season in the NFL, Hines spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills where he was a running back and return man. While in Indy, he worked with current Cleveland special teams coach Bubba Ventrone and had two punt returns for a touchdown as a rookie.
He was traded to the Bills in 2022, where he worked briefly with Ken Dorsey, the Browns' new offensive coordinator. His role on offense was minimal but he had another two touchdowns, this time on kickoff returns.
Hines missed the entire 2023 campaign after a jet ski accident but is ready to go this year. He should be a key piece of the puzzle as a returner as well as a third-down back. In his career, Hines has more yards receiving (1,778) than he does rushing (1,202) and that could wind up being the difference between long sustained drives and punts due to stalling out. Throw in the new return rules and he can be a difference-maker on special teams as well.
2. Jordan Hicks, Linebacker
Anthony Walker, Jr. proved to be a savvy veteran during his tenure but the Browns were ready to move on. They allowed Walker to hit the open market where he signed with the Miami Dolphins. In his place will be Jordan Hicks, a veteran linebacker whose signing didn't gain a lot of attention.
Hicks just turned 32 and has played in the NFL for nine seasons. A third-round pick in 2015 for the Philadelphia Eagles, he worked under Jim Schwartz and even has a Super Bowl ring from their time together.
Early in his career, Hicks struggled with durability, ultimately leading to his departure as a free agent in 2019. He proved he could stay healthy during a three-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals. Hicks then spent the past two years with the Minnesota Vikings and while he missed four games in 2023, that ended a streak of consecutive games going back to his first year with Arizona.
Hicks also recorded at least 100 tackles in each of those campaigns, including a career-high 150 in 2019. For his career, he now has 874 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 49 pass defenses, six forced fumbles, and 13 interceptions. He has a nose for the ball and can help ensure everyone is on the same page due to his experience with Schwartz.
Most importantly, his presence in the middle of the defense will allow Schwartz to move Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah all around the field. The Swiss Army Knife from Notre Dame blossomed into a star in 2023 and will only get better with Hicks as his running mate.
1. Cedric Tillman, Wide Receiver
When the Browns made Cedric Tillman their top selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, it was a bit of a surprise. It's not that he was a bad value at No. 74 overall but they had just traded for Elijah Moore and used a third-round pick the prior year on David Bell. To top it off, there weren't many dots connected between the team and player before the selection was announced.
It was said later Cleveland was drawn to him due to his size, which was stressed due to Deshaun Watson's preference. Tillman, who stands 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, has the perfect build to match up with anyone on the boundary, which was a need for the Browns.
As a rookie, he put up modest numbers with 224 yards on 21 receptions. Heading into his second year in the league, the team's expecting more and he reportedly showed up to the offseason program ready to meet those expectations.
With Amari Cooper holding out, Tillman arrived in excellent shape and stood out in drills. He's been working on his route running as well as his ability to high-point the ball, which would help him in the red zone. He's even earning the praise of his teammates as he's become a mentor for rookies Jamari Thrash and Ahmarean Brown.
Tillman still needs to prove he can get it done during the regular season but with training camp ready to start, he's said to be pushing Elijah Moore for snaps.
In a pass-heavy league, there's no such thing as too many good receivers, so the Browns have no issues with a potential log jam. They'll also be just fine with Tillman taking a step forward this year.