Last season, fans saw multiple Cleveland Browns players have breakout campaigns.
Players such as Rashard Higgins and Wyatt Teller came out of nowhere and put together career years.
It’s also worth noting that quarterback Baker Mayfield finally turned a corner and looked like a franchise quarterback.
Now, it’s a new season and it’s time for some other players to step up and most likely to have career years in 2021.
1. Myles Garrett
At first glance, this might seem like an odd selection for a player to have a career year.
Last season, defensive end Myles Garrett recorded 48 tackles, 12 sacks, and four fumbles forced.
That was arguably the best season of his career, which are some tough stats to surpass.
However, it’s worth noting that Garrett only played in 14 games last season.
He was also a bit lackluster in the second half after being sidelined with COVID-19.
Garrett has been given plenty of time to rest and recover over the offseason.
He’ll get a new 17-game season in 2021 with the NFL expanding the regular season by one game.
The NFL has expanded to 17 regular season games! The Arizona Cardinals are now on our 2021 home schedule. pic.twitter.com/4dxhbXRVqN
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 31, 2021
Those three extra games could make a big difference in Garrett’s stat line.
A fully healthy Garrett is a dangerous player and someone no offensive line wants to deal with on a weekly basis.
The addition of Jadeveon Clowney over the offseason should help Garrett as well.
Cleveland will finally get a legitimate pass rusher to play alongside Garrett.
The hope is that Clowney will be able to take some of the pressure off Garrett and he won’t be doubled quite as often.
It remains to be seen how opposing offenses will attempt to stop Clowney and Garrett.
However, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Garrett recording a career-high in sacks by the end of the 2021 season.
2. Nick Chubb
The Browns would not have made the postseason last year without running back Nick Chubb.
Cleveland is lucky to have a player like Chubb rushing the ball for them every week.
He’s a 25-year-old workhorse back that is seemingly getting better each season.
Opposing defenses have absolutely no idea how to slow down Chubb when the ball is in his hands.
Weekly Nick Chubb touchdown tweet pic.twitter.com/YCZf9shMC8
— Matt DeBary (@MattDeBary) January 3, 2021
Last season, Chubb rushed for a little over 1,000 yards with a career-high 12 touchdowns.
The season prior, Chubb rushed for almost 1,500 yards and eight trips to the end zone, so putting together another career year won’t be an easy task.
In 2019, Chubb nearly won the rushing title and wasn’t running behind this current Browns offensive line.
There’s a strong possibility that Chubb surpasses 1,500 rushing yards in 2021, assuming he stays healthy.
He missed four games last season and still rushed for over 1,000 yards, so it’s not an easy task stopping Chubb.
Having the extra game in the regular season schedule should help Chubb and his task to surpass 1,500 yards.
The Browns currently have one of the best offensive lines in the league and an offensive gameplan that features a heavy run attack.
All of the signs are pointing to Chubb being able to run himself right into a career year in 2021.
NEXT: Projecting Wyatt Teller's Contract Extension With The Browns
