“Hope reigns eternal” they always say, as a new NFL season opens up. With training camp almost here, fans of all 32 teams are preparing for the roller coaster that is the NFL. If hope truly does reign eternal, fans of the 2017 Cleveland Browns are in serious luck. After a 1-15 campaign in 2016, Browns fans are clamoring for wins, to say the very least. Although Cleveland has been the laughingstock of the NFL for nearly two decades, things seem to be looking up. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. What are the realistic expectations for this year’s Browns team? Let’s take a look.
Five Realistic Expectations for the 2017 Cleveland Browns
1. The Front Seven Shines
We’ve already taken a look at the Browns front seven, so I’ll keep this short and sweet. With the influx of young talent on the defensive line and in the linebacking corps, this Browns front seven should be fun. With Emmanuel Ogbah, Danny Shelton, Caleb Brantley, and first-overall pick Myles Garrett in the trenches, Cleveland has tremendous talent. Additionally, the linebacker duo of Christian Kirksey and Jamie Collins could be downright frightening. While the secondary still needs some improvements, this front seven should be the coaching staff and front office’s proudest work.
2. Relying on the Run
With the various improvements, the 2017 Cleveland Browns should be relying on their running game. Truthfully, they have a budding stud running back in the form of Isaiah Crowell. Even behind an atrocious offensive line in 2016, Crowell rushed for 952 yards. With an offensive line like the one the Browns have now, who knows how far Crowell could go? Along with Duke Johnson and Matthew Dayes, the Browns running game should be tremendous this upcoming season.
3. A Number One Emerges
No matter what Terrelle Pryor brought to the locker room mentally, his physical tools were unmatched for the 2016 Browns. But alas, he’s off to the Washington Redskins to play with Kirk Cousins…at least for now. In any case, the Browns need a number one receiver, and in 2017, they should find one. Whether it’s Corey Coleman, Rashard Higgins, Ricardo Louis, or even Kenny Britt, a true number one will emerge. Even if a number one option somehow doesn’t emerge, the Browns are in position to snag one in the 2018 NFL Draft. See here: Courtland Sutton.
4. A Signal-Calling Savior?
The 2017 Cleveland Browns (much like the 1999 Cleveland Browns) are in desperate need of a quarterback. But this is where 2017 becomes a lot different from 1999. Unlike back then, the Browns have a lot of actual talent on the roster, and the line to protect that talent. Between DeShone Kizer, Cody Kessler, and Brock Osweiler, one of these young quarterbacks should come out of 2017 as “the guy.” One of them has to work, right? Right? Well, hopefully for Browns fans, yes. Right.
5. On the Mend
The main expectation (and hope) that fans can have for the 2017 Cleveland Browns is this. While they might not be the best team in the league, they certainly should not be the worst. This is a talented young roster that should be capable of five to six wins in 2017, and even more in the future. When you get right down to it, the Cleveland Browns are on the up and up. Hopefully for Hue Jackson, the front office, and Cleveland fans, this is the start of something beautiful.
