The 8 Browns players who have the most to prove this season

CLEVELAND — The Browns have a lot to prove this season, but which players have the most to prove?

Yep, the guy who lines up behind center and has an eternal chip on his shoulder is one of them, and we'll get to him in a moment, but these are the players who will have to perform if the Browns are going to make next season any fun.

1. Odell Beckham Jr.

Ron Schwane/AP

Beckham deserves some slack for his first season on the Browns. Some fans consider him a diva and don’t believe he performed at a high enough level last year. What some called an “excuse” turned out to be a valid reason for his “disappointing season”—although it seems strange to call a 1,035-yard season playing with a sports hernia disappointing.

This year, Beckham is back from a successful core muscle surgery and is working out hard. "I would honestly say this is probably going to be one of my best seasons... Bigger, stronger, faster. This is my time," Beckham said.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield, when talking about Beckham and fellow receiver Jarvis Landry’s surgeries, expressed excitement to see what the duo can bring to the field this year.

“Those guys are working extremely hard after their surgeries for the rehab process. They look really good, and they say they feel really good. It appears that way. It is just a different mindset going into it. I think they went back to the basics,” Mayfield said. “They are ready to take over, and it is their time now. They know that. We only have so many more opportunities together. They are going to do it and everything for each other. I am looking forward to seeing the productivity they have.”

2. Myles Garrett

David Dermer/AP

This list doesn’t just encompass players who fans expect more out of this season. It also includes players who seem to expect more from themselves. Garrett is a prime example.

Last year, the defensive end was on pace to break the Browns single-season sack record before his season was ended with a lengthy suspension. In the 10 games he did play, he recorded an impressive 10 sacks and had a good shot at reaching his goal of winning Defensive Player of the Year.

Since his reinstatement by the NFL commissioner in February, Garrett has shown his hard work, from sharing his almost inhuman workout routines to taking on leadership roles with the team to giving back to fans and the community, Garrett seems out to prove himself both on the field and off, and he’s doing a great job this offseason.

“Right now, I think he’s in a good place. I think as a young player in this league, you go through a lot of different things, so I think he’s definitely going to learn and grow from the situation that happened last year,” said Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods of Garrett.

3. Greedy Williams

Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

Selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Williams was a star out of LSU. A 2018 Thorpe Award finalist, 2018 first-team All-America from Walter Camp and 2017-18 first-team All-SEC, the cornerback fell short of expectations last season.

After a hamstring injury took him out of the first four games of the season, Williams struggled a bit when it came to coverage. With no interceptions and just two passes defended all season and a 61.3% completion percentage on allowed targets, Williams has room to improve. The good news is there were a lot of positives from Williams last season as well, including not giving up a single touchdown in coverage.

Reunited with LSU teammate Grant Delpit and under the guidance of Woods, an experienced defensive backs coach, Williams has the potential to improve this season and bring the star power he had at LSU to Cleveland.

4. Rashard Higgins

A fan favorite, Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins is back and ready to prove himself to the city of Cleveland.

Higgins developed undeniable chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2018. The wide receiver caught 73.5% of his targets for 572 yards and four touchdowns.

Last season, however, fans were left scratching their heads at the sudden disappearance of Higgins after he suffered a knee injury in the first week of the season. Although a full participant in practices, then head coach Freddie Kitchens limited his playing time. Higgins only played in 10 games and was targeted just 11 times last season.

Uncertainty surrounded Higgins’ future with the Browns, although many fans were adamant about his return to the team, wanting him to get another chance with a coach who might actually allow him to play.

Higgins turned down more money from other teams, instead, taking a smaller deal ($910,000 to be specific) with the Browns because he wanted to stay here.

With the passion and potential from Higgins, this season isn’t so much about having explosive stats but rather a statement to everyone, past coaches included, of why Hollywood belongs on the roster and what he can provide to the team.

5. Mack Wilson

Ross D. Franklin/AP

The Browns aren’t exactly overflowing with experience at the linebacker position. Mack Wilson is set to begin his second season in the league alongside Sione Takitaki, also in his second season, and rookie Jacob Phillips.

Wilson got an early start to his career after former Browns veteran Christian Kirksey was sidelined for the season with a chest injury. Wilson worked hard, and although he wasn’t always perfect, he showed moments of promise. In the 14 games he started, Wilson recorded 82 tackles, 57 of which were solo, in addition to a forced fumble, seven passes defended, a sack and an interception.

With veteran B.J. Goodson brought in to help provide veteran leadership, Wilson should develop even further.

The linebacker took to Twitter, ready to show what’s he’s made of this season, saying this is his season and calling out those who claim the Browns have the worst linebacking corps in the league.

6. Jedrick Wills

Michael Conroy/AP

No one wants to put too much expectation on a rookie. So let’s not. But it will be interesting to see what Jedrick Wills can bring to the left tackle position, a position not addressed since one of the league's best left tackles in history Joe Thomas retired in 2018.

The reason Wills might have a little more on the line than most rookies is that he’s earned the praise of Thomas—and mentorship as well.

“Joe Thomas reached out to me and kind of knew that I would be going to that position right away. As soon as I can start that position as fast as possible and send him some videos, get some pointers and clips from his direction, I feel like I will be in good hands,” Wills said. “He had just hit me up on Twitter DM and just told me that he had a talk with Andrew Berry. He told me that he really likes my game. He gave his number and was like, ‘Call me sometime if you ever need any pointers.’ He knew I was going to be playing left tackle and if I need any pointers on tips and videos or things like that, he will just be there to help me out.”

Wills should fit the Browns offensive scheme well, and although he will be transitioning from right tackle to left tackle, he will do so coming from being the blind side protection at Alabama. He has immense talent, potential to really make a difference on the Browns in a very important position for the team and seems up to the challenge.

7. Olivier Vernon

Ron Schwane/AP

If there was one player to be named with the most uncertainty around their future in Cleveland it is Olivier Vernon. With a pretty heavy contract, it’s been unclear whether the Browns would look to cut him, or perhaps rework his contract to make him a more affordable asset to the team.

Hindered by injuries last season, Vernon missed six games and didn’t play to his fullest in several others. Injuries riddled his past seasons with the Giants as well, and he hasn’t played a full season since 2016.

If you look at a stat sheet, Vernon failed to impress last season, with his lowest number of sacks, tackles, tackles for loss and quarterback hits since his rookie season in 2012.

But numbers don't tell the whole story.

Vernon provided pressure opposite Myles Garrett, which helped Garrett achieve many of the 10 sacks he recorded last season. When healthy, he’s a quality defensive end, and the Browns know that. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods said he believes Vernon is healthy and ready to prove himself this season.

“All of my conversations have been good with him. I get on the phone and talk to him personally. He is ready to go. We just had an honest conversation, and he has been great. He is 100% attendance, in all the meetings. He has been there and he is speaking up. I know he has done really well on his tests. He scored 100% on a lot of them,” Woods said. “I just think for him, he really wants to just come back this year, play healthy and just show everybody what he is capable of doing. So far, he has been great.”

8. Baker Mayfield

David Richard/AP

The third-year quarterback has more to prove than anyone on this list. He knows how important this season is and seems to be working hard to be the player we saw his rookie season.

With a seemingly clear plan in place, the Browns have built the offense around head coach Kevin Stefanski’s scheme—a scheme that should suit Mayfield nicely. From beefing up the offensive line with right tackle Jack Conklin and drafting Jedrick Wills with the 10th overall pick in the draft to play left tackle, Mayfield will hopefully have more chances to work from a clean pocket. The team added talent to the tight end room with Austin Hooper and depth with the drafting of Harrison Bryant to join David Njoku, lending a hand to Stefanki’s tight-end heavy offense.

The Browns even added a market for competition in the wide receiver room, resigning Rashard Higgins, placing a tender on KhaDarel Hodge and signing JoJo Natson as well as drafting Donovan Peoples-Jones to join star receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. The team made moves to make the running game strong by placing a tender on Kareem Hunt and acquiring fullbacks Andy Janovich and Johnny Stanton.

Looking at Next Gen Stats on the Browns quarterback, it was revealed in November that he had the lowest passer rating when not under pressure and had more interceptions than touchdowns when not under pressure. Clearly Mayfield takes some of the blame, but he was not helped by all the faulty route-running and shoddy play calling.

Now with a stronger offensive line, a plethora of weapons at his disposal, and a coach with a seemingly aligned plan to bring it all together on the field, this year is Mayfield’s year to impress once again.

“The goal every year is to make it to the Super Bowl. If you do not set that goal, then you are playing for the wrong reasons and you are not playing to win,” Mayfield said.

The Super Bowl should be the goal every year for every team, but a successful year for this Browns team would be a winning season.

These guys will determine whether or not that happens.

Camryn Justice is a digital content producer at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Twitter @camijustice.