It is amazing what winning can do to the opinion of players and a roster. Coming off a playoff appearance, the Cleveland Browns 2024 roster was considered one of the best when the quarterback position was excluded. A year later, it is hard to find anyone predicting that the Browns initial 53-man roster is anything but a transitional one that could win a couple of games this season.
Cleveland’s roster has more talent than many are willing to give it credit for but, coming off of a three-win season,
they have a lot to prove. Not only is the Browns roster getting younger this season, they are also one of the most athletic groups in the entire NFL overall:
The Browns NFL draft class was also ranked as one of the most athletic, especially when the UDFAs were added, thanks to Adin Huntington. That group was also one of the most productive in college.
The big question, for any team, is not just how athletic they are, but how good of a football player are you? As we’ve seen with a number of players, being fast but not able to catch a football or make a tackle is meaningless. On the other hand, if you are explosive AND good at football (instincts, IQ, etc), then you have a chance to be a game changer compared to a lesser athlete.
The defending Super Bowl champions are ranked second on the list, while the Indianapolis Colts top the rankings this year.
For now, Cleveland’s roster will continue to be evaluated based on the scoreboard and standings. At least the players should look more athletic on the field, either way.
Are you surprised that the Browns roster is so high on the list of Relative Athletic Scores? How much do you think those traits matter on the football field?
