Welcome back to another season of Cleveland Browns football! As the team is now entering the third day of practices down in Greenbriar, West Virginia, we are just about a week away from seeing the Browns take the field in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game against the New York Jets. So why not celebrate with a Browns Wire staff roundtable discussing young players like Elijah Moore and Greg Newsome II?
In this roundtable, the topic is: which young player has the biggest opportunity to step up in training camp? We are defining a young player here as a team member entering their third season or more youthful.
Who has the Browns Wire staff pinpointed? Let’s dive in.
DE Alex Wright
A raw prospect coming out of UAB with unreachable gifts, it did not click for Wright as a rookie. He has a great blend of size, power, and athleticism but he isn’t a refined player that needs development. Now you pair him with more talent taking pressure off of him to perform, and Jim Schwartz overseeing his development. He’s in a great position to succeed. Schwartz has shown the ability to get the most out of defensive linemen and Alex Wright could be the next to flourish under him. – Jacob Roach
WR Elijah Moore
Third-year wide receiver Elijah Moore is poised for a breakout year. The former New York Jet was a heavy focus for the Browns’ offense during OTAs, lining up everywhere including the backfield. The versatile weapon has the speed to score from anywhere on the field. I predict that his ability as a route runner will propel him into Pro Bowl discussions. According to ESPN’s tracking data, FiveThirtyEight assigned Elijah Moore a score of 70 on their “Open Rating”. A 70 Open Rating would be the second-highest rating a receiver has ever had with Deshaun Watson, trailing only DeAndre Hopkins. Last year Amari Cooper scored a 54 Open Rating. I urge everyone to draft Elijah Moore this Fantasy Football season. – Browns Alchemy
CB Greg Newsome II
New number, new defensive coordinator, new role, new expectations. Greg Newsome II was unhappy playing exclusively in the nickel a year ago after a standout year playing exclusively outside as a rookie. Now under Schwartz, Newsome II and Denzel Ward will both match inside and rotate into the slot. Even when Newsome II played outside a year ago (late last year against the Pittsburgh Steelers) he shined. There is no reason for the Browns to expect anything other than more consistent success out there. Entering a crucial season, Newsome II has the chance to make himself a great deal of money in 2023. – Cory Kinnan
