Grading Every Cleveland Browns Position Group Entering Week 7

Sitting at 4-2 through six weeks, the Cleveland Browns have a lot to be happy about and plenty to celebrate.

But like any good group project in school, not everyone deserves the same amount of credit.

Some have helped the cause. Some have hindered it.

Let's take a look at whose contributions have helped establish a playoff contender and whose have held the team back despite a strong start.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Key Contributors: Deshaun Watson (111-of-174, 1,174 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions, 43.6 QBR)

Demonstrated Strengths: Watson has come through when it matters most. He has orchestrated three fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives, leading the league in both categories.

He's mostly kept the ball out of harm's way with only two interceptions. That has given them a chance to close out some games in the final quarter.

Needs Improvement: The rest of the game. Despite the 4-2 record and plays in the clutch, he has also posted a negative EPA per dropback through six weeks. Watson's inconsistencies in pocket management have played a role in him taking 24 sacks already.

Grade: C

Running Backs

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Quinshon Judkins

Key Contributor: Quinshon Judkins (73 carries, 221 yards, one rushing touchdown, 18 receptions, 102 yards)

Demonstrated Strengths: Not many. Judkins is averaging three yards per carry and his longest run of the season was 14 yards. The best we can say at this point is that he hasn't had a fumble this season. Jaleel McLaughlin was serviceable as the lead back with Judkins out in Week 6.

Needs Improvement: Explosive plays. The Browns have four runs of at least 20 yards this season. Deshaun Watson accounts for three of them, all on scrambles—effectively an extension of the passing game. Jaleel McLaughlin has the only other such run.

The offensive line bears some responsibility, but the Browns have to either get more out of their run schemes or find help at the position.

Grade: D+

Wide Receivers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Key Contributors: Denzel Boston (17 catches, 345 yards, three touchdowns), KC Concepcion (22 catches, 186 yards), Jerry Jeudy (12 catches, 150 yards)

Demonstrated Strengths: Denzel Boston has flashed the potential to be a legitimate big-play NFL receiver. He currently leads the league in yards per reception (20.3).

Concepcion has yet to break out, but he's generally catching what's thrown his way. Jeudy has made some clutch catches over the last few weeks.

Needs Improvement: The group needs more consistency across the board. Boston has put up some big games, but he just had one catch for 15 yards on five targets last week.

Concepcion has been schemed a lot of touches, but has just two receptions of more than 20 yards.

A consistent third receiver would be helpful. Jeudy has shown up in high-leverage situations a few times, but he's been invisible for full games in Weeks 2, 3 and 5. Isaiah Bond hasn't stepped up when called on either.

Grade: C

Tight Ends

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Key Contributors: Harold Fannin Jr. (19 catches, 166 yards, three touchdowns)

Demonstrated Strengths: The statline doesn't show it, but Fannin is getting open. He has the third-highest average separation score among tight ends this season. He's also one of the Browns' top red-zone receiving threats with three touchdowns on the season.

Needs Improvement: Overall, Fannin just hasn't been as involved in the pass game as he should be. He has just five catches for 40 yards over the last three games.

Blake Whiteheart had a few targets early in the season, but his production has completely dried up. At this point, the best thing the tight ends could do is help in the run game, but their blocking has not stood out.

Grade: C+

Offensive Line

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Key Contributors: Spencer Fano, Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, Austin Barber, Tytus Howard

Demonstrated Strengths: Zion Johnson struggled in the first few weeks, but he has turned out to be a strong addition at left guard. He has yet to give up a sack this year. Austin Barber and Spencer Fano have each put together performances that have shown they can play in the league.

Needs Improvement: As a unit, things have been rough. The Browns are 26th in yards before contact per rush. They're 27th in pressure rate allowed and have given up more sacks than anyone in the league (24).

Some of those pass rush issues can be pinned on Watson. However, the unit has given up pressure with porous blitz pickups and flat-out losing one-on-one pass blocking situations.

Grade: D

Defensive Line

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Key Contributors: Mason Graham (four sacks), Jared Verse (25 run stops), Isaiah McGuire (23 run stops, three sacks), Maliek Collins (3.5 sacks)

Demonstrated Strengths: Thus far, the Browns have been able to replace Myles Garrett's production in the aggregate. Mason Graham has been out the last two weeks, but had several splash plays before suffering a knee injury.

Jared Verse might not be putting up the pass-rushing numbers most would like to see, but he's been an elite edge-setter in the run game. He's third in the league in run stop win rate among all edges.

Overall, the Browns have put together a defensive front that seems to have quarterbacks on their back foot and does well enough defending the run with their edge-rushers.

Needs Improvement: Health. The production along the defensive line speaks for itself at this point. The Browns' ability to get after the passer with the front four while mixing in some blitzes is driving the defense.

The only problem is that Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr., Maliek Collins and Derek Barnett are all on the injury report. They need to get as much of their depth on the field as possible to carry this level of play throughout the season.

Grade: B+

Linebackers

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Key Contributors: Carson Schwesinger (56 tackles, three TFL, one sack, two forced fumbles), Quincy Williams (40 tackles, three tackles for loss, two passes defended and three forced fumbles)

Demonstrated Strengths: The linebacker duo of Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams is one of the best in the league right now. Schwesinger has proven to be one of the fastest-closing linebackers in the league and Williams is a perfect old-school thumper to play beside him.

Needs Improvement: For all of the impressive things that Schwesinger does to stop the run game from sideline to sideline, he is leaving meat on the bone in the coverage game.

Through six games, he's been targeted 22 times, giving up a passer rating of 119.7 with two touchdowns.

Grade: A

Secondary

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Key Contributors: Denzel Ward (25 tackles, one INT, three PD), Grant Delpit (25 tackles, one INT, three PD), Tyson Campbell (25 tackles, one TFL, two PD), Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (24 tackles, three passes defended)

Demonstrated Strengths: Denzel Ward is still playing just about as well as ever. He has given up just 126 yards in coverage for the season thus far. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has already flashed elite potential and actually has the third-highest PFF grade among all safeties scored this season.

Only two receivers have topped 100 receiving yards in a game against Cleveland this season: DK Metcalf and Garrett Wilson.

Needs Improvement: Forcing turnovers. The Browns have just four interceptions and that's why they are just 16th in passer rating allowed. Covering receivers and tight ends in the slot has been particularly difficult. Myles Harden has been up-and-down throughout the season and Ronnie Hickman leads the team in missed tackles.

Grade: B+