3 Browns With Something to Prove in 2023

Cleveland Browns have a common goal of reaching the playoffs and competing in the AFC in 2023 but it’s going to take improvements across the board.

If the Browns are going to make that leap, three players stand out to me that will need to improve in the coming season. All three of these players are facing different reasons, but if they come together it could mean good things

Jedrick Wills Jr. is set to play in his fourth season and has already had his fifth-year option picked up. It does not mean he will be around for both seasons because the $14.1 million due in 2024 is certainly tradeable. It will never come to that if he makes a leap this year and becomes the player the Browns thought he could be all along.

To this point in his career, Wills has dealt with a bunch of lower leg injuries. They’ve certainly affected his play on the field, though he’s been downright bad at times. However, it’s not all been bad, I think the biggest problem has been the inconsistency. He’s put some good play on tape and has strung together good weeks, just never has really been able to do it over the course of a season. In 2023, Wills will once again have a chance to do that.

If the Alabama product can do that, he could find himself getting a new deal next offseason. His No. 1 priority is protecting the blindside of the next player we’ll talk about.

Deshaun Watson is certainly the given when it comes to players that have something to prove in 2023. Watson hasn’t been himself on the field since 2020 after sitting out the 2021 season and playing just six games in 2022. Those six games weren’t good, despite showing some good moments he looked like a player that had been away from the game for a while.

The Browns don’t need Watson to come out and throw 40 touchdowns to just seven interceptions or anything like that. They need him to be their franchise quarterback and be the guy that can go win the football games late. The expectation is that the offense will look a lot different in 2023 and that could benefit him by opening up things a lot more. Cleveland added more weapons for him in Elijah Moore and Marquise Goodwin, as well as rookie Cedric Tillman.

Bouncing back in 2023 will kill the stigma that he will never be the same, which in return will take a lot of pressure off him. Through camp, Watson looked the best he has with the Browns, despite it being just OTAs. With a normal offseason under his belt, Watson has a great chance to prove it in 2023.

Perrion Winfrey has not been able to get out of his own way early in his career. He came out of college as a guy that talked too much and didn’t back it up on the field. He’s had some off-the-field issues that have gotten in the way and has not adjusted to being a pro very well.

Recently, an assault charge against him was dropped. Something he should use as a fresh chance to stay away from things that negatively impact him and instead he can focus on his career.

As a rookie last season, Winfrey played in 13 games. The Oklahoma product recorded a half sack, 22 tackles (one TFL), and two pass deflections. He wasn’t good as a rookie at a position that isn’t easy to adjust to in the pros. The help around him was not good last year either, so it wasn’t all him.

Cleveland has done a decent job of reinforcing the defensive tackle room with the additions of Dalvin Tomlinson, Siaki Ika, Maurice Hurst, and Trysten Hill. Winfrey has a chance to carve out a nice depth role if he can prove it. He has to make the team first in training camp, as he’s not a lock.

In 2023, Winfrey needs to prove he can stay out of off-the-field issues and be a benefit to the Browns on the field. If he can do those things he will quickly erase the rookie year memories from everyone.

If the Browns want 2023 to go the way they plan, these three players are going to have a hand in making or breaking things.

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