Browns players who can improve the teams record in 2024

David Nyuk, Nick Chab, and Deshaoun Watson have the opportunity to move familiar names.

Cleveland Browns has a memorable name in the top 10 of the various attack categories in the historical list of franchise. Brian Sip, Otto Graham and Bernie Kosar direct the defenders in construction sites and landings. Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly dominate in hasty statistics. Among the receivers, most fans are familiar with Ozzie Newsome, Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedy.

The problem, at least for today’s exercise, is that it’s been decades since many of the franchise’s best players have played for the Browns. Such is the nature of this franchise, with many forgettable players having left since 1999.

But there are a number of players on the current roster who have climbed the list and could finish on the edge of the top 10, or even the top three, with a productive season in 2024. The Browns need quarterback Deshaun Watson to stay healthy throughout the season and regain some of his old mojo if the team wants to make the playoffs this fall. If Watson can play a full season, it’s not hard to believe he will have just the second 4,000-yard passing season and second 30-touchdown season in team history. That would put Watson in the top 10 for career passing yards, finishing the season 12th on the list, just 866 yards behind Derek Anderson, and again behind Anderson.

Running back Nick Chubb would already be second on the list, ahead of Mike Pruitt and Leroy Kelly, if not for a season-ending knee injury he suffered in Week 2 last season. As things stand, Chubb is just 29 yards behind Pruitt and 763 yards behind Kelly, so if he returns midway through the season, Chubb could finish the season second on the list.

On the pass-catching side, if tight end David Njoku can get his first career 1,000 yards receiving, he’ll move past compatriot Milt Morin and move into ninth place on the NFL’s all-time receiving list. Top 10 rankings. And if Njoku repeats his 81-reception season, he’ll move into third place all-time, just 18 behind LaBelle.

Of course, none of this necessarily translates into wins, but the fact that the Browns finally have a stable group of talented players who can etch their names in the franchise record books doesn’t matter. And, of course, check the way to turn the list into a rotating door filled with a forgotten name every year beyond the alternative means.