For years, the Cleveland Browns have tried to build their roster to compete with the rugged AFC North and to be good enough to be considered Super Bowl contenders. While the rebuild might be over, until the Browns win big there will be questions about their roster.
On the offensive side of the ball, in an offensive league, the questions will start (and almost end) with QB Deshaun Watson. RB Nick Chubb and Cleveland’s offensive line have been huge for the team’s return to the playoffs recently but injuries and age are starting to pile up.
DE Myles Garrett leads the way on the defensive side of the ball along with the top trio of cornerbacks in the league. According to Pro Football Focus, the Browns three best players all reside on the defense:
Myles Garrett has been insanely productive for his entire NFL career, and yet, he somehow took things to new heights in 2023. On his way to Defensive Player of the Year honors, Garrett recorded a 94.2 overall grade with an unbelievable 10 PFF pass-rush game grades above 90.0. He also set the PFF record for highest pass-rush win percentage in a season (27.3%).
Za’Darius Smith made it two straight seasons with a pass-rush grade above 84.0, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah took a big leap in 2023 as the centerpiece of the Browns’ defense. He recorded a 76.8 overall grade with an 87.4 pass-rush grade and a 73.2 coverage grade.
Also Considered: CB Denzel Ward, WR Amari Cooper, RB Nick Chubb
While having great defenders is nice, the NFL has clearly prioritized offense. Unless Watson finds his form and/or Chubb returns without any lingering issues from his major injuries, the Browns offense will continue to be a question mark in a league where that is close to an exclusionary criterion for the Super Bowl.
