The Cleveland Browns have been toiling in mediocrity or worse over the course of their history since coming back into the NFL. But some improvement last season, combined with the fact that the team has made some strong roster moves has made them an early candidate to make a huge improvement in the 2019 season.
Cleveland’s defense is rapidly improving, thanks to the drafting of young players like Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, who have made an impact in spurts for the team since signing. There is still room for improvement on defense, but their ability to hold the Steelers and Ravens down defensively last season in division games was encouraging to say the least.
Offensively, the Browns are making moves to continue to improve and to put more talent around top overall pick Baker Mayfield at quarterback. The team signed Jaelen Strong at wide receiver to add to their list of receiving talent, with Mayfield’s development sure to go more smoothly if there are more capable hands for him to throw to.
The Browns also signed Kareem Hunt, who is looking to make an impact after being let go by the Kansas City Chiefs. Hunt was one of the best running backs in the league when he was with Kansas City, and joins a loaded backfield that is already occupied by talented young back Nick Chubb and the versatile Duke Johnson.
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All of these moves have made the Browns a trendy pick to win the Super Bowl despite all of the problems that they’ve had in the past. Super Bowl LIV odds from Oddschecker have the Browns with better odds to win the Super Bowl than nearly half of the league, with confidence continuing to grow. Many fans and analysts are predicting that the Browns will make the playoffs in 2019, with a paradigm shift in the AFC North being predicted thanks to their improvement.
After getting rid of Hue Jackson last season, the Browns showed signs that they were getting better. This season should see their improvement continue under new head coach Freddie Kitchens, who led their offense to a solid season last year. The only thing that seems to be standing in the way of the Browns contending for the playoffs is the loss of Gregg Williams, who left the coaching staff to run the New York Jets’ defense. Either way, the Browns appear to be in the mix to be the league’s most improved team again in 2019.