Bold Predictions for Browns' Individual Stat Leaders in 2022 NFL Season

With Deshaun Watson set to miss the first 11 games of the 2022 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns will be trying to remain competitive in the AFC North until their new franchise quarterback returns.

And that could be a challenge, especially with the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens in their division.

But it’s possible the Browns will succeed and have a chance to get to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. After going 1-2 in the preseason, they are preparing for their regular-season opener, which will be a road matchup vs. the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 11.

Jacoby Brissett is slated to be the Browns’ starting QB to begin the year, so they may need some key players to step up (on both sides of the ball) to help them have success. Whether that happens or not could dictate Cleveland’s results over its first 11 games.

Which Browns players could be in store for big seasons? Here are several bold stat predictions for the upcoming year.

Nick Chubb Will Set Career High in Rushing Yards

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) during warm-ups before the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Since getting taken by Cleveland in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft, Nick Chubb has been a consistent presence in the team’s backfield. He’s among the top running backs in the league, having impressed in each of his first four seasons.

As the Browns go into 2022 with Brissett at quarterback, they’ll likely need to rely on their running game quite a bit. Fortunately for them, they have a potent rushing attack fueled by the duo of Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Each of the past three years, Chubb has rushed for more than 1,000 yards. And he was only four yards shy of that mark as a rookie in 2018. Assuming he stays healthy, it’s a good bet he’ll easily exceed that total again this season.

But if the 26-year-old also plays all 17 games (or close to it), he seems poised to set a new career high in rushing yards, surpassing the 1,494 he totaled in 16 games in 2019.

Cleveland isn’t going to have a great passing attack, allowing Chubb to get a ton of work early in the season and leading to the most impressive stats of his career yet.

Myles Garrett Will Lead the NFL in Sacks

AP Photo/David Richard

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett walks on the field during an NFL preseason football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Cleveland, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. The Eagles won 21-20. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Over his first five seasons, Myles Garrett has never led the NFL in sacks, but he is one of its best pass-rushers every year.

Last year, the 26-year-old took his game to another level, notching a career-high 16 sacks (third in the NFL) while starting all 17 games. And he’s going to have another big year in 2022, assuming he stays healthy. The question is, just how big?

It’s possible the defensive end can lead the NFL in sacks. Pittsburgh Steelers edge-rusher T.J. Watt (who led the league with a record-tying 22.5 sacks last season) will also be in the mix, so it could be a battle between these AFC North rivals near the top of the leaderboard.

If Garrett doesn’t lead the NFL but ends up in the top five, it will again be another successful season for him as the leader of the Cleveland defense.

However, the prediction here is the Texas A&M product will end up at No. 1 and continue to build off the tremendous results he’s had to this point in his NFL career.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Will Make His First Pro Bowl

Jason Miller/Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 27: Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #28 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after making a tackle during the first quarter of a preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Browns couldn’t have asked for much more out of linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in his 2021 rookie campaign.

The former Notre Dame standout, who was taken in the second round of the 2021 draft, collected 76 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles while playing 14 games and making 10 starts.

Now, the 22-year-old is poised to build off that production and have an even better showing during the 2022 season. It’s quite plausible to think he’ll have his first 100-tackle season, and he should make an impact all over the field.

Teammate Myles Garrett also sees tremendous breakout potential:

"I think he'll be a big-time player honestly. He does very well at using his frame and even though he's a smaller linebacker, I wouldn't say that he plays small just because he's great at throwing his weight around, great at using his hands and he flies around at such a high speed that he makes up for that lack of power that sometimes you can't get if you're not moving off the ball."

Expect big things from Owusu-Koramoah this year, as he should put up even bigger stats across the board. And by season’s end, he’ll be heading to his first Pro Bowl, with more trips likely to come in the future.