With the disappointment of the Cleveland Browns 2021 season slowing receding, now is the time to stop focusing on the negatives and switch to the positives. While excuses should never be tolerated, last season was ruined mostly due to injuries sustained by several key players. Looking forward, there are some players who stood out during the season, and they have a promising future with the Browns.
These Players Have a Promising Future With the Cleveland Browns in 2022
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – Linebacker
One of the Browns only hybrid players, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a linebacker who can fill the safety role if needed. An injury held him back but his numbers were still impressive. He finished his campaign with 76 tackles, four pass defenses and 1.5 sacks.
Owusu-Koramoah is capable of getting all over the quarterback, as he demonstrated in Week 12 against Lamar Jackson. He flies all over the field and analyzes offensive plays from the snap like a player more experienced that himself. He could be a nightmare for opponents next season, and Pro Football Focus has noticed by placing him on their All-Rookie team.
Donovan Peoples-Jones – Wide Receiver
Donovan Peoples-Jones showed flashes of greatness during his rookie campaign in 2020, and in 2021 became a prominent presence on the field with 14 games and nine starts. He led the team with 597 yards on 34 receptions, and three touchdowns. He also led the Browns in yards per reception with 17.6.
The second half of the season was not as productive for the wideout. However, whenever the struggling offense performed well, Peoples-Jones was largely responsible. He is on the brink of a 1,000-yard season, but that will depend on whether Baker Mayfield is healthy.
Grant Delpit – Safety
Grant Delpit’s 2020 rookie campaign ended before it began when he tore his Achilles during training camp. This season, he made his long-awaited debut in Week 2. His instincts were clear – he finished that game with six tackles and a sack, despite playing limited snaps.
In 2021, his playing time increased and he played 15 games, including seven starts. He had a total of 66 tackles, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble. Delpit’s ability to stifle the ball carrier was displayed this season and it is expected that he will be paired with John Johnson III, which will help the secondary remain solid.
Jacob Phillips – Linebacker
Since being selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Jacob Phillips has played two shortened seasons. Injuries kept him down and he played just nine games in his rookie year with 25 tackles.
In 2021, he suffered a torn biceps and was not expected to suit up at all. However, Phillips was on the field in Week 14, playing in four games. In Week 17, he played 85 percent of defensive snaps. He finished that game with nine tackles, two for loss, and one sack. A healthy Phillips may prove to be a real threat in 2022.
A.J. Green – Cornerback
In 2021, the injury-riddled Browns were forced to go deep at cornerback, allowing Green on the active roster for 12 games. As the season rolled on, he played 99 snaps over the last two weeks of the season, his first career pick happened in Week 16. The year ended with Green clocking 2 tackles, five pass defenses, one interception, and two fumble recoveries. There is talent there and he is likely to get more snaps in 2022.
As other teams battle in the playoffs, the Browns can look forward to the next season and with so much talent, they may live up to the expectations that were placed on them prior to the 2021 season.
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