Browns season storylines: Deshaun Watson suspension, Myles Garrett's Defensive POY push

BEREA − It was an offseason of near-constant drama. That was followed by a month of training camp over which much of that drama still loomed.

However, after all of that, only a few days remain before the Browns can finally attempt to put that behind them when they kick off the regular season on Sunday at the Carolina Panthers. Of course, even then the offseason drama will still be front and center as they face their former No. 1 overall pick and starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield, on the other side.

That is just one of 17 games for the Browns. And one game shouldn't define a season.

But there are plenty of storylines which will define this Browns season, including − but not limited to − the following four. One, in particular, has come to define not just the season, but the organization as whole since mid-March.

Deshaun Watson's 11-game suspension

The storyline of the Browns' offseason became the storyline of the Browns' training camp. Even though there's been a resolution in quarterback Deshaun Watson's NFL disciplinary case, it's still the primary storyline for the Browns' regular season.

Watson's absence is going to hang over the Browns until he makes his return to the field on Dec. 4, when Cleveland faces Watson's former team, the Houston Texans. Even then, 700 days after he last played in a regular-season game, there will be the question about how rusty he'll be having been off that long.

Of course, the biggest question is how the Browns deal with Watson's absence in those 11 games. They've placed their trust in Jacoby Brissett to start in his place, with Joshua Dobbs and the newly-signed Kellen Mond behind him.

A solid performance by Brissett in that role could put the Browns at least within striking distance of the playoffs, as well as the AFC North title, when Watson comes back. A performance in line with his 6-14 record in his past 20 starts with the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins could put the Browns in a hole that proves to be too deep.

Myles Garrett's Defensive Player of the Year drive

Myles Garrett has grown into one of the NFL's premier defensive players. There's no one who would dispute that claim.

There's also been no one who's been willing to give the Browns' defensive end a vote when it comes to the league's Defensive Player of the Year award. That's something Garrett has stated he's wanting to change.

Immediately.

Garrett arrived in training camp stating his individual goal is to finally claim the award, which went a year ago to T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's coming off a season in which he set a Browns single-season record for sacks with 16, giving him 28 in just the past two seasons.

There's no doubt that, especially in Watson's absence, the Browns will have to lean on the defense. For that defense to be at its best, it needs Garrett to be at his best.

What does that "best" look like? It looks like a potential Defensive Player of the Year.

Kareem Hunt's big contract year

Amidst all of the questions about Watson's availability during training camp was another minor drama which occupied a 48-hour time span. That was running back Kareem Hunt's two-day camp "hold-in," or whatever one wants to call it.

Hunt spent two camp practices in early August refusing to participate in any team drills as he looks to get a contact extension from the Browns. His agents also made a trade demand to the team, which quickly said no to those.

Hunt, who hasn't spoken publicly since his youth camp in late June, is in the final year of a deal with a base salary of $1.35 million and a roster bonus of $4.9 million. He signed a two-year, $13.25-million extension in 2020.

What does this all mean weeks since Hunt returned to full practice participation? Well, a motivated Hunt could be a big key to the Browns' offense having success, with or without Watson.

Hunt's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield figures to be utilized heavily considering the unproven receiving talent behind Amari Cooper. He's also, when healthy, part of arguably the best running back tandem in the league with Nick Chubb.

If Hunt is looking for a big payday, which he is, then a healthy and highly productive year could be the pathway to get just that.

Cade York

That's it. That's the storyline.

Cade York, the fourth-round kicker from LSU, has taken on rock-star status since his arrival. Booting 70-yard field goals in warmups will only add to the mythology around the individual Browns fans foresee as the answer they've been looking for since Phil Dawson's departure in 2012.

York's preseason certainly did nothing to throw water on the hype. He was 4-of-6 on field goals, making a 57-yarder, and missing kicks from 55 and 58.

All of that is nice. But none of those kicks will count toward his career stats. Starting Sunday, the kicks will.

That's when everyone will find out if the York Hype Train will officially leave the station and start barreling down the tracks.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett headline Browns season storylines