You will find some pundits that believe they have the type of talent to keep them near the hunt for the playoffs until the return of DeShaun Watson, which would then allow the Browns to hit the turbo button, make the postseason, and be a very dangerous team that few will want to face in those playoffs.
There are others that think the Browns will not be able to overcome the absence of DeShaun Watson with Jacoby Brissett and the lack of any wide receivers other than Amari Cooper that scare anyone and they might be the fourth-best team in a four-team division.
Both could be right and the truth could also be in the middle but the Cleveland Browns 2022 season could be predicted in several ways and no predictions can be laughed away or scoffed aside as being ridiculous.
Until DeShaun Watson's suspension is over, it'll be Jacoby Brissett at quarterback and Joshua Dobbs as the backup.
Dobbs looked better in the preseason but he is far less experienced and I understand the decision to use Brissett until Watson's return.
Second-year player and former third-round draft pick Kellen Mond was claimed from Minnesota to serve as the third-string quarterback.
The Browns offense still seems a bit one-dimensional as Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski seem to think that replacing Jarvis Landry with Amari Cooper is more than enough to upgrade the passing game.
While Cooper certainly is an upgrade downfield and overall, the Browns stubborn belief that adding Cooper and rookie David Bell in the slot will be enough to give Jacoby Brissett the targets that he needs to give the Browns a fighting chance during his eleven-game tenure.
The running game still will be among the deepest in the game with Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, DeErnest Johnson, and rookie Jerome Ford and they will need all of them if the Browns are going to have any chance of making the playoffs.
Donovan Peoples-Jones returns as the starter at wide receiver opposite Amari Cooper with Cleveland still seeming to place far too much faith in 2021 third-rounder Anthony Schwartz to improve his pass-catching and sixth-rounder Michael Woods and versatile Demetric Felton can be used at wide receiver or running back.
The wide receivers (other than the non-Watson games) might make or break this season on the gamble that drafting David Bell and swapping Jarvis Landry for Amari Cooper is going to be enough for a wide receiver improvement.
David Njoku was signed to a four-year contract extension in May with the hopes that his occasional glimpses of greatness can show up more often as the number one tight end.
The skills and ability are there for Njoku but can the consistency be relied upon finally?
Harrison Bryant is a nice second tight end with excellent hands and Jesse James was signed as the third tight end for blocking situations.
The offensive line is top-notch at guard with perhaps the best tandem in the league at the position in Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio.
2020 first-rounder Jedric Wills struggled with injuries last season and affected his performance in his second year at left tackle, while former All-Pro Jack Conklin attempts to return from his season-ending injury in 2021 on the right side.
Chris Hubbard will also try to return as the backup swing lineman after going out for the year last season in the opening day defeat, 2021 fourth-rounder James Hudson is backing up Wills at left tackle and veteran Joe Haeg was signed a few days for more depth at tackle.
The Browns decided to release steady veteran J.C. Tretter even though he was signed for 2022 in order to pave the way for Nick Harris, who then injured his knee in the preseason opener and ended his season.
Fortunately, the Browns had signed former Seahawk Ethan Pocic to backup Harris and Pocic does have some starting experience in his days in Seattle.
Michael Dunn is the primary backup for Pocic and Dunn can also play guard and tackle.
The offense will all come down to how well the passing game will do with Jacoby Brissett.
If Brissett can keep offenses honest enough with his arm and a questionable group of receivers is able to step up, the Browns could have a pretty good offense.
If Brissett or his pass catchers cannot do that- the Browns are going to struggle with their offense and any hopes of a decent season could be out of bounds before DeShaun Watson ever hits the field.
I intend on trying to return later today with a look at the defense...
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