Hall of Fame doors might someday open for these four current Browns | Jeff Schudel

Aug. 5—Joe Thomas being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 5 opens the question “What current Browns might someday be worthy of enshrinement in Canton?”

Thomas is living proof playing in Super Bowls isn’t a criteria for Hall of Fame election. Thomas played 10-plus seasons, but was on only one winning team his entire career, and that was as a rookie in 2007 when the Browns were 10-6. But Thomas played in 10 straight Pro Bowls and never missed a snap his entire career until he was injured. Lining up for 10,363 consecutive snaps and playing through injuries without griping trumps team flaws.

Four players on the 2023 Browns might — might — someday be considered for enshrinement. Defensive end Myles Garrett, left guard Joel Bitonio and running back Nick Chubb might be in the Hall of Fame discussion someday if their careers continue to trend in a positive direction.

As far as Deshaun Watson is concerned, his career would have to pick up where it was interrupted after the 2020 season, and for him more than numbers is involved. Let’s take a look at each of the four candidates individually.

—Garrett was the first overall pick of the 2017 draft. He owns the Browns franchise record with 74.5 career sacks. He is on a streak of four straight Pro Bowl seasons. He had 16 sacks in 2021 and 16 again in 2022.

Voters will look at Garrett’s production once he becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame after he retires. Thirty-eight defensive linemen are in the Hall of Fame, and the majority of them played defensive end, as Garrett does.

Garrett’s chances of being Hall of Fame worthy would be enhanced if he plays another five years or so and continues to put up double-digit sacks. It would be enhanced more if the Browns make the playoffs.

—Bitonio: Of the 48 offensive linemen in the Hall of Fame, 15 are guards. That means it could be difficult for Bitonio to get the recognition he might deserve, especially since the second-round pick of the 2014 draft has enjoyed only one winning season (2020) and has been on a team that won only one playoff game (also 2020), since he was drafted. That could change if the Browns have success this season and beyond.

Bitonio has made five straight Pro Bowls, He hasn’t missed a game in any of the last six seasons. He is one of those players, like Clay Matthews, who is well-known to followers of the Browns but not as well known by the Hall of Fame voters nationwide. He is a victim of the Browns’ failures to win, and it isn’t his fault. Nor is it his fault he was drafted in the second round.

—Chubb has rushed for 6,341 yards in just five seasons. Leroy Kelly, a Browns running back from 1964-73, is already in the Hall of fame. Kelly rushed for 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns in 10 seasons. Barring an injury, Chubb should surpass Kelly’s rushing total this season, even with the shift away from emphasizing the run.

Kelly was more than just a running back, though. He caught 190 passes for 2,281 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also returned a total of 170 punts and kicks for 2,774 yards. He returned three punts for touchdowns and played on the Browns’ 1964 championship team.

Chubb has 119 career catches. He doesn’t return kicks or punts. Whether he proves Hall of Fame worthy five years after retiring depends on how long he plays, and that would depend on whether he gets another contract after his current one with the Browns expires after the 2024 season.

A look around the league, with Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Kareem Hunt out of work shows running backs are not in high demand. Chubb might be in the same situation in 2025.

—Watson arguably started putting up Hall of Fame numbers in his four seasons with the Houston Texans. He passed for 14,539 yards while throwing 104 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions.

Watson has some things working against him, too. He was just 28-25 as a starter with the Texans. Quarterbacks, often but not always, are judged by team success, and so far Watson’s teams haven’t had much success. Plus, Watson has to repair his image after being suspended 11 games in 2022 by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after more than two dozen massage therapists accused him of sexual assault

—Sixteen players plus Coach Paul Brown are in the Hall of Fame from the Browns. Eight teams have more, led by the Chicago Bears with 30, followed by the Packers and Steelers with 26 each, the Giants with 21, the Cowboys and Washington Redskins with 20 each and the Rams and Raiders each with 19.

The only Browns in the Hall of Fame that played for them after 1975 are guard Joe DeLamielleure, Ozzie Newsome and Thomas.

DeLamielleure, a guard, played for the Buffalo Bills from 1973-79. He played the next five seasons for the Browns and then finished his career in 1985 with the Bills.

Newsome, a tight end, played his entire career, from 1978-90, with the Browns.

I didn’t know that

… until I read my Snapple bottle cap.

Ninety-nine percent of our solar system’s mass is the sun. … The pupils in a goat’s eyes are rectangular. … You cannot taste food until it’s mixed with saliva. … The first vacuum was so large, it was taken to a house by horses. … Elephants are capable of swimming 20 miles a day. … Oxygen supply influences the color of a fire’s flame.