The Cleveland Browns picked up a season-defining victory in Week 6 over the San Francisco 49ers. Despite starting quarterback Deshaun Watson sitting out because of a shoulder injury and the team turning to P.J. Walker, not Dorian Thompson-Robinson, as their starter, Cleveland was able to pull off the upset win.
It wasn’t the prettiest game, but at the end of the day, a win is a win. The Browns have one of the best defenses in the NFL that is going to keep them in games on a weekly basis; if they can see a little uptick in production offensively, this team will take off.
Heading into Week 6, the Browns were near the bottom of the NFL in expected points added, right ahead of only the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their 19-17 victory over the 49ers likely isn’t going to improve that number much, but there are ways for Cleveland to begin turning things around.
Getting Watson healthy and back on track is certainly the best option. If the Browns are going to make noise, he needs to play at a higher level than he has thus far this season. We know what he is capable of doing, as he was one of the rising stars in the NFL with the Houston Texans before his career took a downturn.
One way to help Watson elevate his game is to continue upgrading the roster around him. The Browns went out and acquired Elijah Moore from the New York Jets in the offseason, but they could use a little more help.
He and Amari Cooper, the team’s No. 1 receiver, have been great. But, the Browns are getting virtually nothing from anyone behind them. Adding a bona fide third option in the passing game would help take this offense to another level.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report has pinpointed the player who can help them achieve that. In his opinion, Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is someone that Cleveland should be looking to add now.
“The Browns have yet to find consistency or a rhythm with Watson at quarterback. Part of that has to do with a group of receivers that hasn’t lived up to expectations. Amari Cooper is the team’s No. 1 receiver, but Elijah Moore hasn’t provided the spark he was expected to, and Donovan Peoples-Jones is not performing in a contract year.
Jerry Jeudy had a career-high 972 yards last season, but he has not been a major element of the Broncos offense thus far this season. If Denver continues to struggle as the trade deadline approaches, he could make a good No. 2 receiver in the Browns offense.”
Adding Jeudy to Cooper and Moore would give Watson one of the better wide receiver trios in the NFL. He would be a big upgrade over Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Bell, who have operated as the team’s No. 3 receiver thus far this season.
Jeudy is reportedly a player the Broncos are going to look to move ahead of the deadline as they currently have a record of 1-5. A bidding war would price the Browns out of the race after all the draft capital they have surrendered in recent seasons, but they need to at least do their due diligence when it comes to the former first-round pick.
