I won't get into the entire "we have a chance" part of your post. I believe that holds true of most teams in the AFC actually and the Browns are certainly no exception to that. To a degree I certainly won't say you are wrong. We have a very talented roster and Berry has an uncanny ability to find bargains in the FA market to fill gaps at below market value. We have more talent than I think we have had in recent memory. I feel we certainly upgraded the coaching staff with the addition of Schwartz as DC. As it pertains to that it will be dependent on whether we see what we saw last season with watson or whether we see what we saw when watson played in Houston. The jury is out in regards to that. As you stated about predictions, I certainly won't make any predictions either way on that. I'm in a "we'll see" pattern. But I will say that I don't feel watson will have to play at a top 5 QB or elite level for the Browns to be serious contenders or make the playoffs. I do think he will have to have an above average level of play however.
I do believe you articulated that the AFC is blessed with many very talented QB's quite well. It certainly is not a given as to who can or will win the AFC title.
I would however like to touch upon the following aspect of your post.........
Of course the Chiefs are the Champs and they have Mahomes. They have the best quarterback and no doubt one of the best coaches.
No way can you pencil them in to repeat. If we know one thing. That thing is "Parity in the NFL."
First, I think the system is open for parity. It's set up in a way that gives each team, and especially those at the bottom to improve with the way the draft is set up. Yet at the very same time, that parity can only be achieved if you have people running the operation that can take advantage of such an opportunity. We've seen teams hover at the bottom of the league for very long periods of time because they simply hired the wrong people to run things. Once they get the right people in place things begin to turn around. But even then they have to get all of the pieces of the puzzle right. If you give a poor coach good talent you still won't find success. If you give a great coach bad talent you won't reach success. It's pretty much a situation that from the owner all the way down to the coaching staff the right people have to be in place. And that's no easy task to achieve. With the Browns I think that was the biggest obstacle in the way for a very long time. Not so much anymore. It's true that giving watson that huge contract was a gamble. Whether it will pay off or not is still to be determined. But it was an understandable gamble. Every major signing such as that is a gamble. Fame and success is not for the faint of heart. It was either go big or stay at home. So no matter how things shake out, it would be hard to say that I don't understand the move.
Secondly I would like to address your comments in regards to Mahomes and the Chiefs. I agree with you that as of now you would certainly have to call Mahomes the best QB in the NFL and that Andy Reid is one of the, if not the best HC in the NFL. With that said, I still agree with you that there's no way you can pencil them in to repeat. But I would like to touch on another very big reason as to why that's so. While there are some exceptions, in every phase of the NFL from owners, to coaches to players, the competitive fire in these people is fierce. They didn't get to where they are by resting on their laurels.
They know to be the best you have to beat the best. Yes, teams game plan for all of their opponents during the season. But beating the current champions is something every true competitor will focus on. From a coaching standpoint nothing could motivate your team more than beating the reigning champs. As such, every game the Chiefs will play they will have a special target on their backs. Their opponents will have a greater level of intensity. That makes it even harder for any team that holds the NFL championship to repeat.
