Browns ‘legitimate threat’ to Ravens, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says - cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio – You could make the case that ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has been as critical of the Browns as anyone over the past year.

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He was quick to rip those who suggested the Browns were Super Bowl contenders last offseason. Smith’s gone on record as saying the team maybe shouldn’t have drafted Baker Mayfield No. 1 two years ago and has criticized new general manager Andrew Berry for his support of the young quarterback.

But Stephen A. Smith remains a fan of Baker Mayfield and the Browns, and insists the team could have a tremendous year. That began last week when Smith gave his opinion that the Browns are the biggest threat to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North division.

“I think they’re the biggest threat right now, at least on paper. Let’s give credit where credit is due,” Smith said on ESPN’s “First Take.” “We don’t expect Baker Mayfield to regress. You have a new coach in Kevin Stefanski who clearly is an upgrade from [Freddie] Kitchens. If you’ve got Jarvis Landry with Odell Beckham Jr. [David] Njoku is your tight end, he’s going to be back. Austin Hooper from Atlanta as a free agent.

“I look at all of those things -- their running game, their tight end, the offensive line was buffered. Baker Mayfield is expected to upgrade,” Smith continued. “Remember, I didn’t believe in them at all last year, because I thought it was too much hype. Now that they’ve gotten knocked back down to earth, I do believe they can be a legitimate threat right now.”

Smith’s analysis might surprise some Browns fans. But the popular ESPN personality doubled down on the Browns earlier this week when asked if he believed Odell Beckham Jr.’s recent declaration that he would return “bigger, faster, stronger” this season.

“I think it’s possible that he will,” Smith said. “With the multitude of weapons the Cleveland Browns have and with our expectations of Baker Mayfield, I think anything is possible.”

You can listen to Smith’s full take below. If he’s right, the Browns could fulfill the promise the team’s roster showed when it took shape last year.

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