Jake's List: Top 5 most important Cleveland Browns players for the 2022 season

Browns training camp kicks off in a few short weeks and before you know it, the 2022 NFL season will be here.

Before the Browns take the field to prepare for the upcoming season, let's take a look at who I believe are the Top 5 most important players this season.

Here is the latest edition of Jake's List.

5. Cade York

The Browns spent a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 124 overall, on kicker Cade York and for good reason. The Browns haven't had consistency at the position since Phil Dawson gave the Browns 14 years of excellent performances before leaving for the San Francisco 49ers.

The Browns are hoping York is the answer to their problems at kicker. Last year, Browns kickers made a league-worst 72.7% of their field-goal attempts. York has to come in and give the Browns a consistent performer in the kicking game and all signs point to his ability to do just that.

At LSU, York made a school-record 15 field goals of 50-plus yards with a long of 57 in 2020. He made a school-record 118 consecutive point-after attempts and was an All-American. The Browns have a history of drafting kickers such as Arizona State's Zane Gonzalez in the seventh round and Oklahoma's Austin Seibert in the fifth round of the 2017 and 2019 drafts. Those picks didn't exactly work out, but York has the Browns and believing he can be the guy to finally bring a consistent presence to the position. The Browns desperately need that.

4. Denzel Ward

The fifth-year cornerback has developed an unwarranted reputation for being injury-prone. That couldn't be further from the truth. Ward has never played in fewer than 12 games in the past four seasons and last year, he played in a career-high 15. For a guy who plays a physically demanding position, missing just two games is O.

Ward signed a mega-deal in the offseason with a five-year, $100.5 million extension. He is the highest-paid corner in the league in terms of guaranteed money at $44.5 million. It is a massive investment in a position that has developed into one of the most important in the NFL in recent years and the Browns will need Ward to earn every cent.

Ward will be huge in 2022 as the Browns continue to try and lock up the defensive secondary with Greedy Williams continuing to prove himself after undergoing three injury-riddled seasons and Greg Newsome, who will move over to cover the slot. The secondary needs leadership and consistency and that is where Ward will come in. If he can give the Browns the leadership they need, the defense could take a giant step forward.

3. Jack Conklin

In 2021, the Browns stumbled to an 8-9 record after starting the season with Super Bowl hopes. One major factor in the disappointing season was injuries. Baker Mayfield was a shell of himself with a left shoulder injury and he was one of 20 Browns who spent time on injured reserve.

A guy who had two different stints on IR was Conklin, one of the top-rated right tackles in the league. He played just seven games last year and opened up a gaping hole in the offensive line when he went down for the last six games of the season. Conklin's health will be instrumental to the Browns' success in 2022. In 2020, Conklin was a first-team All-Pro after he committed just two penalties all season.

With the status of quarterback Deshaun Watson up in the air and a likely suspension coming, the Browns will need everyone on the offensive line to remain healthy while they figure things out at quarterback. With guys like Conklin, any QB can flourish and that is why Conklin will be so important in 2022.

2. Donovan Peoples-Jones

With the loss of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, all eyes are on DPJ to have a breakout year. The Browns went out and traded for Amari Cooper as their true No. 1 receiver, but to take some pressure off of him and keep defenses from double-teaming him on every play, it will be very important for Peoples-Jones to step in and be that guy who can make defenses pay for going one-on-one against him.

Peoples-Jones was sensational during the 2021 minicamp as he and Mayfield built a lot of chemistry during the offseason, but it never really transitioned to the field. He did post career highs in catches with 34 and yards with 597, but the third-year receiver will have to take a major step forward in 2022. Peoples-Jones can make life easy for whoever is throwing the ball for the Browns this year by being a consistent route-runner. It is time for Peoples-Jones to be the guy in the receiving room.

1. David Njoku

The most important player for the Browns in 2022 has to be Njoku. After signing a blockbuster four-year contract extension worth a maximum of $56.75 million, including $28 million guaranteed at signing, the Browns made sure to let Njoku know he is their guy at tight end moving forward. He will make $25 million in the first two years and he is about to earn every penny in 2022.

It is no secret coach Kevin Stefanski loves his tight ends. He is going to have to love them even more this season. If Watson is suspended for the entire season or any amount of time, Njoku is going to have to be the safety blanket. The offensive strategy will be drastically different with whoever is under center during Watson's absence. It will be a lot of running the football and short passes to tight ends like Njoku.

If the Browns have any chance at success on the offensive side of the ball, it will begin and end with Njoku.

jfurr@gannett.com

740-244-9934

Twitter: @JakeFurr11

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Cleveland Browns need these five players to step up in 2022