On NFL Total Access on NFL Network, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner had some very positive things to say about the underrated Cleveland Browns.
“This is a team that I believe is prime and ready to live up to the hype this year.” 👀
Three teams being slept on entering 2020 💤👇
📺: @NFLTotalAccess pic.twitter.com/VvERTRvraB
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) May 21, 2020
Why does Warner think that the Browns are Underhyped?
Warner said the following in response to being asked about the most underhyped NFL team heading into the 2020 season:
“I will say it is the Cleveland Browns, probably because they were overhyped last year. Everybody said they were a Super Bowl team, and then they struggled out of the blocks, but when I look at the football team, they still have the shiny toys on the outside.”
Baker Mayfield, who ranked among the worst deep-ball throwers in 2019, will be hoping to duplicate his impressive rookie year.
According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked in the top seven in the following categories on 20-yard passing attempts in 2018: accuracy percentage (third), completions (fourth), touchdowns (sixth), and passer rating (seventh).
Warner thinks that the offensive line was part of the reason that Mayfield and the Browns struggled last season:
“Their biggest issue last year was the offensive line. You get Jack Conklin in the offseason, and then you add Jedrick Wills in the draft.”
Jack Conklin is so confident heading into his first season with the Browns that he is hoping Nick Chubb wins the 2020 rushing title.
Cleveland’s draft impressed Warner:
“Grant Delpit may be the best safety in the draft – you pick up in the second round to go along with the young cornerbacks.”
Nate Davis of the USA TODAY agrees, as he tabbed Delpit as an impact rookie in 2020.
Warner thinks that the Browns will be successful in 2020, but he is hoping that it is not just on paper:
“I like what the Browns look like on paper. Again, I know we don’t win on paper, but this is a team that I believe is prime and ready to live up to the hype this year.”
Warner does admit that Browns look good on paper for the second consecutive year, but he thinks that the team should be ready to succeed in 2020.
Are the Browns actually the Most Underhyped Team in the NFL?
In the 32-team National Football League, being “underhyped” is based on the eye of the beholder.
On the show, the three analysts chose three different teams.
Steve Mariucci picked the Arizona Cardinals while LaDainian Tomlinson selected the Philadelphia Eagles for the most underhyped teams.
The Cardinals were 5-10-1 last season.
In 2019, the Eagles finished 9-7 for the second consecutive season.
Meanwhile, the Browns, who finished 6-10 in 2019, have not had at least nine wins in a season since 2007.
2007 was Joe Thomas’ rookie season.
Now in 2020, the Browns hope that lightning strikes twice with rookie offensive tackles.
Rookie Jedrick Wills Jr., whom the Browns selected 10th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, was a part of one of the best offenses in 2019.
Alabama’s quarterbacks threw for an NCAA-best 11 yards per pass attempt last season.
After Kevin Stefanski prohibited Wills from wearing Joe Thomas’ No. 72, Wills chose No. 71:
Starting my own Legacy🐶 #71 #DawgPound #GrizzlySZN https://t.co/ygBSJwSd5B pic.twitter.com/jwjeh5YAuC
— Jedrick Wills Jr.® ➕🌎☄️💕 (@JWills73) April 27, 2020
With Wills revealing that he will be starting his own legacy, the Browns will have the ability to start over as well in 2020.
Maybe the Browns could start a streak of postseason appearances.
Back-to-back playoff berths have not occurred for the franchise since the late 1980s.
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