Cleveland Browns planning huge 2019 season

The turnaround of the Cleveland Browns continues during the 2019 NFL offseason as the team looks to contend during the upcoming season. Once a proud organization of that won five division championships between 1980 and 1989 as well as seven playoff trips will look to make its first trip to the playoffs in 2009. A trip that would mark their second trip since 2000 (2002) and just their third overall trip since that last trip during 1989. Along with just their third playoff trip since 1989 but a division championship in the AFC North would mark their first since that 1989 season.

Have Cleveland finally found their quarterback?

After releasing Hue Jackson during the 2018 NFL season the Browns raced to a 7-9 overall record with a chance during Week 17 to move to 8-8 against division rivals the Baltimore Ravens. Since their return to the NFL in 1999, the Browns have struggled to find consistency on the field, and more importantly, at the quarterback position. A quarterback position that included 30 different starting quarterbacks before landing Baker Mayfield during the 2018 NFL draft and his fast track to starting quarterback.

Mayfield, who appeared in 14 games for the Browns last season, played to a 6-7 record as the starting quarter while completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 3,725 yards and 27 touchdowns. Along with his passing, Mayfield made plays for the Browns when needed using his ability to run the football. While Mayfield was possibly the biggest acquisition during last season, the team also traded for wide receiver Jarvis Landry and drafted in Nick Chubb in the 2018 NFL draft.

Odell Beckham Jr capture signals intent

Now just months after their improved 2018 NFL performance, the Browns continue their attempt to spring to the top of the AFC North and become one of the teams to beat in the AFC. On Tuesday Night, the team agreed to a deal to acquire All-Pro wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr from the New York Giants for their 2019 1st and 3rd round picks, as well as versatile safety Jabrill Peppers. The move to acquire Beckham allows the Browns to team the former LSU Tigers wide out with his former receiver college teammate Landry.

Along with Beckham, the team also added Kareem Hunt earlier in the off-season after he was released from the Kansas City Chiefs. This followed the aftermath of a video, which surfaced online, of him having an altercation with a woman during the regular season at a hotel in Cleveland. These additions now allow the Browns to possible have one of the premier offenses in all of the NFL. Along with those moves, the Browns also added Eric Kush to sure up the teams offensive line.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Browns were able to add Sheldon Richardson at defensive tackle and Adrius Taylor at linebacker through free agency. The team also managed to trade for Olivier Vernon to play opposite side of Myles Garrett at defensive end. While the team has some work today and a few additional pieces to sure up the defense, the team should still have the talent to stop opposing offenses in 2019.

As of now one thing is for certain and that is the 2019 Cleveland Browns might be the most exciting team in all of the NFL to watch, and will be eyeing up their first ever Super Bowl.

Featured Image Credit: “Cleveland Browns New Helmet” (CC BY 2.0) by EDrost88