The Cleveland Browns “won the offseason,” were ranked near the top of the NFL for moves, and were seen as “winners” throughout NFL free agency and the NFL draft. While there are questions about the quarterback position, QB Shedeur Sanders “has progressed so much,” and the return in the DE Myles Garrett trade could set the team’s future up quite nicely.
Despite all that, Cleveland’s win total still sat at 6.5, with 250/1 odds to win the Super Bowl, and 22/1 odds to win the AFC North after the Garrett
trade. Surprisingly, the Garrett deal didn’t greatly impact those odds.
So, how can the Browns be lauded for all their moves and yet still have such low expectations? Starting at rock bottom makes the climb much longer, even if they’ve made significant strides the last two offseasons.
According to ESPN, Cleveland’s projected starters are the second worst in the NFL, with the defensive front seven labeled as the team’s strength and the quarterback position as the weakness. The x-factor identified is interesting:
X factor for 2026: The remade offensive line. Four of the Browns’ five projected O-line starters weren’t in Cleveland last season, and the fifth — Teven Jenkins — started only four games. The Browns are betting that the entirely new group will jell quickly and protect whoever is playing quarterback. The group is a mix of profiles, from first-round rookie Spencer Fano to versatile veteran Elgton Jenkins to guard Zion Johnson, whose run block win rate took a big step up last season. The range of outcomes for this unit is wide. — Walder
Only the Miami Dolphins are ranked worse than the Browns. Former Cleveland HC Kevin Stefanski moved on to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason with his roster ranked just ahead of the Browns.
How do you feel about the 31st ranking for starters? Do you think ESPN has overvalued the QB position in these rankings?
Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
