The absolute truth is that Berry and Stefanski yet again will field
Another year of a non playoff team .
A 3 and 14 team in 2024. And the best additions it can add
On one of the worst offenses from 2024 is a 40 year old statue
And a game manager QB plus a WR that played for 3 teams in one year .
If I had a dime for every time I read how improved and great the Browns
Would be on offense leading to training camp Id be Jeff Bezos rich
The Browns offense will be a exercise in ball control and boredom this year
When Jerry Jeudy is your best WR, that's a issue
Let me know when Berry can actually draft explosive playmakers
I'm not sold on the defense. Outside of MG ,DW who are the stalwarts?
Oh yeah journeyman at LB and banking on a 2nd RD rookie . The loss of JOK is huge . There is zero depth at LB if the starters get hurt.
The secondary is meh. If Ward gets doinked in the head again
He's done. Depth at CB is questionable too. The safeties aren't nothing
To write home about .
Sorry I don't see a team that's going make a jump to 6 or more wins
It will have to play almost a flawless game each week to be competitive
If the offense falls behind 9 points or more , forget about .
And the BTW the schedule is harder this year
Well let's address this broken out so that it's understandable..
OFFENSE
"3 and 14 team"
Each of Stefanski's playoff years were preceded by losing years. 6-10 2019 to playoffs in 2020, 7-10 2022 to playoffs in 2023.
I understand your argument that 3-14 doesn't equal either 6-10 or 7-10, but there just numbers. In the NFL, any given team is a difference between 3-14 and who knows what.. with a few less injuries or a couple of personnel changes. The point is, this is a playoff team two years removed, with a roster that really hasn't changed much. If anything, this roster has improved from 2023..
2023 2025
QB Joe Flacco QB Joe Flacco
RB Jerome Ford RB Jerome Ford
RB Kareem Hunt RB Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson (upgrade on potential only)
WR Amari Cooper WR Jerry Jeudy (upgrade)
WR Marquise Goodwin WR Cedric Tillman
WR Elijah Moore WR Jamari Thrash
TE David Njoku TE David Njoku
TE Harrison Bryant TE Harold Fannin Jr (upgrade on potential only)
DE Myles Garrett DE Myles Garrett
DT Dalvin Tomlinson DT Maliek Collins (upgrade)
DT Jordan Elliot DT Mason Graham (upgrade on potential only)
DE Za'Darius Smith DE Isaiah McGuire
WLB JOK, Sione Takitaki WLB Carson Schwesinger
MLB Anthony Walker Jr MLB Jordan Hicks, Jerome Baker
CB Denzel Ward CB Denzel Ward
SS Grant Delpit SS Grant Delpit
FS Juan Thornhill FS Ronnie Hickman
CB Martin Emerson Jr CB Martin Emerson Jr
NB Greg Newsome NB Greg Newsome
Not a lot of upgrades, but I don't see any downgrades....
As for Jerry Jeudy, he was the 6th best WR in the NFL in 2024 for yardage, I'm not exactly sure what your standard is for "best you got?".
We might be able to let you know as early as this year if he can draft explosive players... Judkins and Fannin certainly have the resume. I know TE isn't sexy, but if he can get you 650 yards and 4-6 TDs, that's pretty explosive at that position, top ten in the league. Remember, he hasn't had a first round pick in 4 years, with only a ONE second rounder... His resume is incomplete.
__________________________________________________________________
DEFENSE
I agree the loss of JOK is huge. I attribute it to last year's decline. What we didn't have in 2024 was someone to step in his place, I mean no one. This year we have potential AND proven. Jerome Baker is no slouch, but it's projected that Schwesinger will be good enough to win the starting role right away, with Baker coming in certain schemes.
The defensive backfield is the same as in the 2023 playoff year... moot point.