5 bold predictions for the Cleveland Browns in 2018

Predicting the Cleveland Browns to improve their record in 2018 isn’t bold. Predicting these five things to happen certainly is. 

At some point, things have to start turning around in Cleveland. The Browns have made too many high draft selections to stay bad forever. Long-suffering fans fo the team are hoping that 2018 is the year things start to go right for Hue Jackson and company.

At the very least, the Browns should have enough talent to win a football game this year. That didn’t happen for them in 2017. The real question is just how many games the team can win. Some fans in northeast Ohio are dreaming of a miraculous playoff run. That isn’t going to happen, but the team should be competitive most weeks.

We start our bold predictions with an aggressive call about one of the team’s most gifted athletes.

5. Myles Garrett will have more than 12 sacks

The Browns made Garrett the top pick in the 2017 draft with the idea that he’d be a dominant pass rusher for years to come. He gave them a good campaign as a rookie, but he wasn’t great. Expect that to change in his second season.

Bet on Garrett to blow past last year’s total of seven sacks. The team’s overall improvement will be a big factor in his increased production. The more time the Browns actually have a lead, the more passes opponents will be forced to throw. That, of course, will give Garrett more opportunities to rush the passer.

It’s also safe to expect him to make a major leap between his rookie and sophomore seasons. Last season, he produced sacks based largely on athleticism. This offseason he’s had the chance to really work on his technique. That’s going to be a bad combination for opposing tackles assigned to handle him on the edge. Look for Garrett to ascend to a Pro Bowl caliber pass rusher in 2018.