My favorite sports team

When I was born, my dad instilled the idea in me to be a Browns fan. I remember the first season I started watching was in 2017, when the Browns had just spent their first-round pick on Myles Garrett. The Browns also had two other first-round picks, selecting David Njoku—who, like Garrett, is still on the team and performing at a high level. They also selected Jabrill Peppers, who was later traded to the New York Giants for standout wide receiver OBJ. The Browns’ starting quarterback for the 2017 season was DeShone Kizer, who they drafted from Notre Dame in the same draft where they landed Garrett. Kizer led the league in interceptions that year but started showing promise toward the end of the season. Ownership decided to move on from Kizer, and it became clear he had no future with the Browns. The Browns then drafted Baker Mayfield with the first pick in the 2018 draft.

Baker Mayfield broke the rookie record for touchdowns in his first season with the Browns, showing significant promise early on. However, his sophomore season saw a slump, and while he bounced back in 2020 by leading the Browns to the playoffs and securing a playoff win, his performance dipped again the following year. In his final season with the team, Mayfield struggled, especially while playing through a shoulder injury. Ultimately, the Browns decided to move on from Mayfield, making an unforgettable trade to shape the future of the franchise.

The Browns traded for Deshaun Watson, who joined the team following legal troubles that led to his departure from his previous organization. Watson was suspended for 12 games in his first season with the Browns, which hindered his initial progress with the team. In his second season, he suffered an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. During his absence, the Browns brought in veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who delivered an impressive performance. Flacco averaged over 300 yards per game and led the team to the playoffs, marking one of the best seasons for a Browns quarterback in recent years. Despite Flacco’s success, the Browns chose to stick with Watson due to the record-setting, fully guaranteed contract they had given him.