Everyone absolutely knows that an NFL team needs a quality quarterback to be a really good team for more than a year or two. The Cleveland Browns have not had that, with the closest thing being QB Baker Mayfield, but his injury limited the longevity of that timeframe before the ill-fated QB Deshaun Watson trade.
At this point, as much as possible, Browns fans should be focusing on what the future holds. Whether that future includes GM Andrew Berry and HC Kevin Stefanski is yet to be seen, but hopefully,
that future includes a young franchise-level QB.
In the QB/HC combo needed in today’s NFL, the quarterback is vital, but the current AFC playoff picture shows us just how important a whole team, health, and good coaching are to success. After Thursday Night Football, the following teams are slotted into playoff position:
Current AFC Playoff Picture
- Denver Broncos
- New England Patriots
- Indianapolis Colts
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Buffalo Bills
- Jacksonville Jaguars
NFL fans will notice what, or better yet, who is missing from this picture:
- Patrick Mahomes
- Joe Burrow
- Lamar Jackson
- CJ Stroud
- Tua Tagovailoa
In fact, QB Josh Allen is just one game up on the Houston Texans, who knocked them off on Thursday Night Football with Stroud out with a concussion. QB Trevor Lawrence’s Jacksonville Jaguars would fall into a tie with the Texans with a loss in Week 12.
Jackson and Burrow have dealt with injuries, but the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals rosters are far from good enough, overall, with some suspect coaching decisions. Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have not figured out how to run the football and can’t rely on an aging defense and TE Travis Kelce near the end of his career.
Stroud has not looked good this season, before his concussion, and is now winning games with Davis Mills at quarterback. Tagovailoa is a step down from the rest of the list, leads the league in interceptions and the Miami Dolphins have struggled, but he is being paid like a top quarterback and has been healthy all season
Now, a look at the quarterbacks who are currently in the AFC playoffs:
- Bo Nix
- Drake Maye
- Daniel Jones
- Aaron Rodgers
- Justin Herbert
- Josh Allen
- Trevor Lawrence
Allen is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the league, Maye is thought of as the future (and possibly current league MVP), but is early in his career, and Herbert has a ton of fans but has not won a playoff game in his first five seasons.
Jones is on his third team in two years, Rodgers is near the end of his career and certainly not carrying the team as he once may have, and the jury is still out on Nix.
The AFC playoff picture could change drastically between now and the end of the season but as of now, the idea that all a team needs is a quarterback is just inaccurate.
The moral of the story for the Browns heading into the 2026 NFL draft is one simple word: And!
Cleveland needs a franchise quarterback and…
The Browns need very good to great coaching and…
Cleveland needs a quality roster to go with that franchise QB and quality coaching and…
The Browns need some injury luck.
The key all offseason will be the word “and.” When media or fans tell you Cleveland needs “X,” remind them of the need for “Y, Z and A” as well.
