There is a lot of excitement in Cleveland when it comes to talking about the Browns. First, the team won 7 games in 2018, which is the most since 2014. Next, they may have found their franchise QB in Baker Mayfield, who threw 27 touchdowns in 2018, which is the most by any rookie QB in NFL history. Furthermore, they have talent on defense with Pro Bowlers Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward. Finally, according to ESPN, the Browns are going to have close to $80 million in cap space in 2019, and a new head coach in Freddie Kitchens, who helped turn Cleveland’s offense around in the second half of the season after the team fired head coach Hue Jackson and OC Todd Haley.
All these things are enough for Browns fans to have a lot of optimism in 2019, which is shared by their RB Nick Chubb. The rookie RB, who got the bulk of the carries after the team traded RB Carlos Hyde in October, and ran for close to a 1000 yards and eight rushing touchdowns in 2018, believes the Browns will take that next step and make the playoffs in 2019.
When asked by TMZ Sports if he believes the Browns will make the playoffs next season, Chubb said, “Yea, we will.”
The AFC North will probably be wide open next season. The Steelers have some internal issues going on, the Ravens have a good defense, but they’re questions on the offensive side of the ball, and the Bengals are the Bengals. So, If Mayfield is what he showed in 2018, and management improves the team even more in the offseason, the playoffs are a possibility, but the NFL is a weird league, and sometimes players don’t develop and take that next step, or sometimes injuries derail things, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Video/courtesy: TMZ Sports