Three Cleveland Browns that Need to Shine in Preseason Game 3

Three Cleveland Browns that Need to Shine in Preseason Game 3

Ayden Fahlstrom
3 years ago
2 min read
Three Cleveland Browns that Need to Shine in Preseason Game 3

The 2021 NFL preseason will be wrapping up this weekend before a one-week layover will lead into the official start of the regular season. While many teams will be in action this weekend, the Cleveland Browns will be concluding the preseason action with a Sunday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Cleveland is spoiled for weapons and is a contender for the AFC title, though one of the bigger questions is regarding who will fill the roster around their superstar talent.

Here are three players that will need to rise and shine in the final week of the preseason in order to guarantee themselves consistent snaps in the regular season.

Anthony Schwartz, Wide Receiver

Cleveland’s list of pass-catchers looks more like a Pro Bowl roster than just one team’s; headlined by Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and Austin Hooper, Anthony Schwartz will have his work cut out for him if he wants to play meaningful time on the field. 

The former Auburn Tiger was taken in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft as a deep-threat specialist, enabled by his incredible speed and track and field background. He only had two 100-yard receiving games last season, which does not bode well for his chances as a full-time starter, but he has the ability to change the game in one play. In the final preseason game, he will need to electrify the offense in some capacity, given that he is currently listed fight in the receiver depth chart.

Greedy Williams, Cornerback

Just two years ago, Greedy Williams was taken in the second round as a third option, borderline starting cornerback. Now, the LSU product is on the outside looking in, with Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, and rookie Greg Newsome II all listed ahead of him in the pecking order.

Williams will also be rusty after missing the 2020 season with nerve issues in his shoulder, though he claims to be back to normal. In his lone season, he recorded 47 tackles and two pass deflections but failed to force a turnover in 12 games. The fact that Cleveland brought in two players at the same position to move ahead of him does not bode well for his long-term future as a Brown, and now that his back is against the wall, he must respond or face the reality of becoming a bench player.

Mack Wilson, Linebacker

If you are wondering why the starting linebacker for a team that has Super Bowl potential needs to perform in the preseason, the answer lies in week one’s 23-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars— specifically, the performance of rookie Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who led the team with eight tackles, three for a loss, and a sack. 

Wilson had a down year last year statistically, though he missed five games during the campaign. For now, he is listed in the starting spot, though the Browns did not take Owusu-Koramoah in the second round to serve as a backup full-time. Wilson will need to remind the Browns’ coaching staff of the player that he was heralded as coming out of Alabama if he wants to hold off the electrifying rookie for the starting job.

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