Predicting Browns' Breakout Players at 2023 OTAs, Minicamp
The ramp-up to the 2023 NFL season is about to get underway for the Cleveland Browns. They'll be hosting OTA offseason workouts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, followed by more from May 30-June 1 and a mandatory minicamp from June 6-8.
After missing the playoffs each of the past two seasons, the Browns appear to be in a good spot to get back into the postseason this year. They have a talented roster filled with impact players on both sides of the ball.
Plus, there's always the potential for some new stars to emerge. And that could happen as early as the upcoming offseason activities, which can be important for players looking to make a strong impression well before training camp begins later this summer.
Here's a look at several Cleveland players who could start breakout seasons with strong showings at those upcoming offseason activities.
Elijah Moore, WR
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Elijah Moore is an easy pick for the potential breakout star of the Browns' offense in 2023.
The wide receiver flashed what he's capable of at times over his first two NFL seasons, but he was playing for the New York Jets and often didn't have the necessary quarterback play to put up huge numbers.
Moore will now be catching passes from quarterback Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. The Ole Miss product should slot in as the No. 2 WR behind Amari Cooper, and that duo could be difficult for opposing defenses to cover.
If Moore emerges as a viable receiving threat, it will make thate whole unit better, taking some of the pressure off Cooper and others. The 23-year-old has the ability to get into the end zone often, as he showed when scoring five touchdowns in 11 games as a rookie in 2021.
The Browns traded for Moore for a reason, and he has a good chance to finally live up to his potential with a fresh start.
Alex Wright, DE
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After trading for Za'Darius Smith, Cleveland again has a strong pass-rushing duo, as he'll pair nicely with Myles Garrett to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks.
However, Garrett and Smith won't be the only players racking up sacks for the Browns.
Although Alex Wright didn't record a sack during his 2022 rookie campaign, the 22-year-old defensive end remains an intriguing prospect.
With 17 NFL games and five starts now under his belt, the 2022 third-round pick could be in a position to be more productive during his second season.
Wright spent a year learning from Garrett, which could start to pay dividends on the field in 2023. Plus, there won't be pressure on Wright to succeed, as he'll be a backup worked into the mix on a rotation.
Once the UAB product picks up his first sack, he may start to collect even more at a decent pace. He has the talent to be much more productive than he showed for much of last year.
Martin Emerson, CB
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Like Wright, Martin Emerson is a defensive player who was selected by the Browns in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. He also didn't put up huge numbers as a rookie, playing in 17 games (including six starts) and failing to record an interception, but he did collect 63 tackles and a sack.
The 22-year-old could perform even better in 2023, when he can solidify his starting role in a secondary that also includes Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II. It's a strong unit that may take another step forward if Emerson progresses well.
Last year, the Mississippi State product demonstrated great coverage ability, even if he didn't make a ton of game-changing plays. Those should come as his career goes along, especially if he continues to have the type of success against wide receivers that he did in 2022.
Cleveland's CB corps appears set up to have long-term success, and Emerson should be a big part of that moving forward.
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