Browns Fall Deep In Final NFL Offseason Power Rankings
Last season, the Cleveland Browns were one of three teams out of the AFC North to earn a postseason berth, with the Cincinnati Bengals being the odd man out after a season-ending injury to quarterback Joe Burrow.
The Bengals should be back to full strength this season, and there are questions from the national pundits about the effectiveness of the Cleveland offense and its quarterback Watson.
Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK
Because of those question marks, the Browns appear in the middle of the pack in the final NFL offseason power rankings.
17 - Cleveland Browns
2023 Record: 11-6 (Lost Wild Card)
2024 Betting Win Total: 8.5
The Browns are going to be hard-pressed to follow it up unless QB Deshaun Watson starts to live up to expectations. Watson has played in just 12 games since being acquired via massive trade and massive contract, and he hasn't played well when he's been on the field. With Chubb's injury keeping the running game in flux - there's a good chance he's never the same player he was before the injury - there's going to be even more pressure on Watson and the passing game.
The defense probably won't be No. 1 in the league again but the pieces remain for it to be a top-ten unit with essentially the whole core coming back. The offensive line should be healthier after a poor run of injury luck. All of that won't really matter, though, if Watson can't rediscover his mojo.
It'll be a tough win for whichever AFC North team wins the division. But if we look at the final offseason rankings, the Bengals rank highest at No. 4, while the Baltimore Ravens fall in at No. 5. The Pittsburgh Steelers show up just behind the Browns at No. 18.