2021 NFL Draft: 5 Teams that made the leap to contenders

1. Cleveland Browns

Last season was undoubtedly historic for the Cleveland Browns. The franchise ended an 18-year playoff drought as a wild card team in the AFC and then dismantled the rival Steelers to advance to the Divisional Round thereafter. On top of that, they pushed the eventual conference champion Chiefs to the brink in that game.

Suffice it to say that the needle was already pointing up for the Browns. Baker Mayfield showed signs of being the quarterback that was promised towards the end of last season and the offense has an identity with him, Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry, a returning Odell Beckham Jr. and head coach Kevin Stefanski, along with a revamped offensive line.

The big question was whether they could patch up the defense enough to truly contend. After a rich free agency class was brought in to jumpstart that process, they continued it with the 2021 NFL Draft. Greg Newsome II is an immediate starter at cornerback to pair with Denzel Ward, Troy Hill and Greedy Williams while Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a potential game-changer in the middle of the field.

Throughout their entire draft, the Browns were able to find players who can help them both now and in the long term. That’s the sign of a smart new general manager and Andrew Berry. But it’s also a sign that this team wasn’t a one-year wonder in 2020. In fact, the Browns look like they’re on the cusp of being a perennial Super Bowl threat.