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As the Cleveland Guardians struggle in the first half of the season and the Browns having recently concluded mandatory minicamp, Northeast Ohio sports fans will likely return to form.
That means navel gazing about anything and everything related to the latter team. That includes the apparent four-man quarterback battle between veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders to whether a run-centric offense will revive the team’s competitive juices.
Then there’s the question of whether the defense can return to the form that helped lead the way to the playoffs in the 2023 season with the No. 1 unit in the NFL.
Dreams of going from worst to first after a 3-14 record in 2024 may dance in some fans’ heads, but USA Today is skeptical.
Sportswriter Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz ranks those eight teams (in order) San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants, and — to absolutely no one’s surprise — the Browns aren’t exactly smelling like roses in his analysis of their current situation, coming in last.
Middlehurst-Schwartz acknowledges what could go right for the Browns, the main thing being returning to coach Kevin Stefanski’s core, run-centric offense likely to be led by rookie running backs Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State) and Dylan Sampson (Tennessee).
The second is a defense that still has defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward and added promising rookies in defensive tackle Mason Graham in the first round and linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a potential replacement for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. However, overall, of eight teams, he ranks the Browns as the least likely to make the move to the top of the division.
Of course it’s quarterback, quarterback, quarterback — a legitimate concern — as is the question of whether the offensive line, even with the return of guard Joel Bitonio, can return to form after last year’s debacle of who’s coaching whom.
The Browns made waves when they traded down in the draft with the Jacksonville Jaguars, passing on Swiss Army knife wide receiver-cornerback Travis Hunter, and adding a second first-round pick in the 2026 draft. It was a logical move considering there exists a national consensus the team is bereft of talent.
It’s not difficult to pick on the Browns for making that move but, while Hunter is viewed as a can’t-miss-prospect in many circles, the NFL’s history is laden with the stalled careers of can’t-miss-prospects. What are fans to think? Here’s a thought: See you on the field in September.
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns chance to move up in AFC North seem slim
Continue reading...
That means navel gazing about anything and everything related to the latter team. That includes the apparent four-man quarterback battle between veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders to whether a run-centric offense will revive the team’s competitive juices.
Then there’s the question of whether the defense can return to the form that helped lead the way to the playoffs in the 2023 season with the No. 1 unit in the NFL.
Dreams of going from worst to first after a 3-14 record in 2024 may dance in some fans’ heads, but USA Today is skeptical.
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USA Today lists least likely NFL teams to go from worst to first in their division. Guess who's at the top?
Sportswriter Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz ranks those eight teams (in order) San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants, and — to absolutely no one’s surprise — the Browns aren’t exactly smelling like roses in his analysis of their current situation, coming in last.
Middlehurst-Schwartz acknowledges what could go right for the Browns, the main thing being returning to coach Kevin Stefanski’s core, run-centric offense likely to be led by rookie running backs Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State) and Dylan Sampson (Tennessee).
The second is a defense that still has defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward and added promising rookies in defensive tackle Mason Graham in the first round and linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a potential replacement for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. However, overall, of eight teams, he ranks the Browns as the least likely to make the move to the top of the division.
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So why do the Browns rate last in moving up?
Of course it’s quarterback, quarterback, quarterback — a legitimate concern — as is the question of whether the offensive line, even with the return of guard Joel Bitonio, can return to form after last year’s debacle of who’s coaching whom.
Other media continue to punish the Browns’ draft move
The Browns made waves when they traded down in the draft with the Jacksonville Jaguars, passing on Swiss Army knife wide receiver-cornerback Travis Hunter, and adding a second first-round pick in the 2026 draft. It was a logical move considering there exists a national consensus the team is bereft of talent.
It’s not difficult to pick on the Browns for making that move but, while Hunter is viewed as a can’t-miss-prospect in many circles, the NFL’s history is laden with the stalled careers of can’t-miss-prospects. What are fans to think? Here’s a thought: See you on the field in September.
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns chance to move up in AFC North seem slim
Continue reading...
