Cleveland Browns: 5 Players facing make-or-break 2018 seasons

The 2018 NFL season is quickly approaching and these five Cleveland Browns find themselves in a make-or-break situation.

Most positions have been established and upgraded and the make-or-break candidates are now those looking to fill out depth along the roster for the Cleveland Browns.

Wide receiver is a common area of discussion as the lack of stand-out play has been apparent for several years. The position has been vastly upgraded as a whole and, of the five names on this list, three of them are among those wide receivers.

And we start our exercise with one.

Corey Coleman

This list would certainly be inaccurate if Coleman did not top it. Entering his third year, he finds himself looking down the draft-bust barrell. Having shown flashes of possibility, he has yet to put together a solid campaign due to injury.

Unfortunately for Coleman, the Cleveland Browns are not waiting around to see if he puts a solid career together. At one point the best receiver on the field, the return of Josh Gordon accompanied with the acquisitions of Jarvis Landry and Antonio Callaway likely drops Coleman to third or fourth in the depth chart. He also must battle Damian Ratley, Rashard Higgins and Ricardo Louis for positioning throughout training camp.

Coleman has the talent to be a top receiver in the NFL, but the time to prove it is at hand. Speaking of hands, I certainly hope Coleman has been taking a calcium-rich diet, because another broken hand could signify the end of his time in Cleveland.

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Ricardo Louis and Rashard Higgins

Fellow draftees in 2016, both Louis and Higgins have shown glimpses, yet have been unable to secure a legitimate role. With the offseason additions mentioned earlier at wide receiver, the going is only getting tougher for these two.

Zane Gonzalez

Gonzalez is the NCAA record holder for the most field goals in a career with 96. He is also the 24th most accurate kicker in FBS history with a career mark of 83-percent. His college days, however, have come to an end and Gonzalez found a good bit of struggles in his rookie campaign in the NFL.

As the saying goes, a kicker is only as good as his next kick, and his completion percentage of only 75 does not offer the warm and fuzzy feeling one would hope for. His performance did even out as the 2017 season progressed, but expect a much better sophomore performance. Otherwise an extended kicking competition leading up to the 2019 season may be likely.

Tyrod Taylor

Yes indeed, I place Taylor in this category, and for good reason. Let’s face it, Baker Mayfield is set to take the reins in 2019, if not sooner. For Taylor, 2018 is an extended job application for any team in need of a starting quarterback and the price tag attached will be directly associated to his play on the field this upcoming season.

Fans may disagree with this assessment as Taylor has taken Cleveland by storm, offering a veteran presence and much needed leadership. Although I am intrigued to see what he will provide, we must be wary not to lock in to hopes that he will remain in Cleveland for an extended duration.

Philadelphia certainly proved the benefits of having multiple starting-caliber quarterbacks as their championship campaign would have fallen well short without the tandem of Carson Wentz and Nick Foles. That situation, however, is not mirrored by the one in Cleveland.

The only foreseeable outcome where both Taylor and Mayfield remain in Cleveland beyond 2018 is if one or the other concedes to a backup role. Both are highly competitive and hungry and without having Taylor under contract for a longer duration, the likelihood of retaining both is non-existent. Taylor will be looking to sign a lucrative contract as a starter somewhere in 2019 and the first-overall draft pick will not be moving elsewhere anytime soon.

Perhaps the Browns would be willing to foot the bill on Taylor, either with an extension or franchise tag, but brewing contemptment does not a good situation make. If he earns his keep he should be entitled to reap the benefits and find a suitable situation in 2019.

Next: NFL QB Power Rankings 2018: Pre-training camp

One name you thought you’d see on this list: Carl Nassib

Personally, I simply don’t see Nassib in this category. He has shown enough to establish himself as a solid second option at defensive end and provides quality depth at the very least. He has not put up the numbers that many of us have expected, but given the horrid display of the team in general last season, that sentiment could be tied to every player on the roster.