There's a long and proud history associated with the Cleveland Browns dating back to the 1940s. Some of the best football players of all time have been a part of the franchise and have their names all over the team's record books.
Records, however, are made to be broken.
With the NFL expanding to 17 games, it's just a matter of time before every record eventually falls. Looking ahead to the 2024 season, several single-season records could be threatened. There are also some interesting changes to the record books to monitor. Here we look at four players who could assert themselves among Cleveland's best.
Deshaun Watson: Most passing yardage, most passing TDs in a single season
Current record: Brian Sipe, 4,132 yards and 30 TDs in 1980
Brian Sipe had a regular season to remember in 1980 — and a postseason to forget. Sipe set two franchise records that year when he threw for 4,132 yards with 30 touchdowns. He even won the NFL MVP as the Browns were 11-5 and made the playoffs. Unfortunately, Sipe's historic campaign ended with a devastating interception, known forever as 'Red Right 88'.
Deshaun Watson might not be a popular player and after two frustrating campaigns in Cleveland, many have given up hope. While that's understandable, there's still a chance he can put up some impressive numbers if he can stay healthy.
Watson has twice thrown for more yardage than Sipe's record, hitting 4,165 yards in 2018 with Houston and 4,823 in 2020. That year, he also had 33 touchdown passes.
Cleveland has built a roster that can throw the ball all over the yard. Watson has Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku, Elijah Moore, and Cedric Tillman to work with. If he can suit up for all 17 games, he can threaten these long-standing records.
David Njoku: Most receptions, top-10 yardage in franchise history
Current record: Ozzie Newsome, 89 receptions in 1983 and 1984; Kellen Winslow in 2006
Milt Morin at 10th all-time at 4,208 yards is just 944 yards ahead of David Njoku
David Njoku had a fantastic season in 2023. The seventh-year pro had 81 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns. It was the best performance of his career and it was closer to the franchise record for receptions than most realized.
Ozzie Newsome, the most famous tight end to ever play in Cleveland, set the record in 1983 with 89 receptions. He tied that in 1984 and then another tight end, Kellen Winslow, matched the mark in 2006.
Njoku's 81 has him tied for eighth with Jarvis Landry but he could have easily surpassed the mark if not for the quarterback issues the Browns dealt with in 2023.
Njoku had several games where he was hardly targeted, including Week 1 as Deshaun Watson was (again) shaking the rust off. He had just two receptions on three targets in that win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He had another slow day when P.J. Walker made his first start in Week 6. In a victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Njoku saw four targets and had three receptions.
He finished the season on fire as he and Joe Flacco were on the same page but the first start with Flacco saw Njoku catch just two passes as they needed time to get their rapport figured out.
This year, if Watson can stay healthy, the Browns might see an even better version of Njoku. That could lead to a change in the record books.
Nick Chubb: 2nd All-Time in rushing yardage
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72512422/1500089641.0.jpg)
Leroy Kelly at 2nd all-time is 763 yards ahead of Nick Chubb
This is a record that should have changed in 2023. Nick Chubb has been on a terrific pace since the Browns selected him 35th overall in 2018. He had 996 yards as a rookie, then topped 1,000 yards in each of the next four seasons.
That streak ended in 2023 when he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in a Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chubb was hit low by Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, prematurely ending his season with just 170 yards on 28 rushing attempts.
Chubb needed two surgeries to repair the torn ligaments and this led to some debate about his future. In the end, he and the front office agreed to a restructured deal that protected the franchise financially while giving Chubb a chance to bounce back in a place he's comfortable playing.
There's still no set timetable for his return but recent reports indicate Chubb could be back earlier than expected. If so, that's excellent for the team — and it could help No. 24 cement himself as one of the greatest in franchise history.
With 6,511 yards rushing, Chubb is fourth in franchise history. He's just 29 yards behind Mike Pruitt (6,540) for third and 763 yards behind Leroy Kelly who sits at No. 3 with 7,274 yards. Chubb will need more time to surpass his touchdown total as Kelly has a 26-touchdown lead with 74 compared to 48.
Still, Chubb can put his name behind Jim Brown, who has 12,312 yards as the most productive back in team history. That number might not be obtainable, but there's no denying Chubb will surpass Kelly if he plays anything close to a full season.
