NFL Power Rankings 2020 preseason: Where do LA Rams fall?

Team 19 – Cleveland Browns (6-10)

The Cleveland Browns once more are convinced that this is their year. It isn’t. And there’s the painful truth about teams that load up on highly paid free agents hoping to jump onto a team on the rise, only to be disgruntled when they take a step backward.

2019 summary

Did anyone else see the Cleveland Browns taking a step backward in 2019 after the spending spree in free agency? So many flamboyant high-strung players who want a Super Bowl ring trying to synch up with a blue-collar team like the Browns were bound to struggle. And that struggle could extend into 2020 as well. This is a team that is simply too eager to win. As soon as the Browns seem to find success, the team makes premature moves and ends up worse for the effort.

Players lost

The Browns parted ways with ILB Joe Schobert, S Eric Murray, ILB Christian Kirksey, S Juston Burris, and others.

Players added

The Browns welcomed OT Jack Conklin, QB Case Keenum, TE Austin Hooper, DE Adrian Clayborn, and S Karl Joseph. The team drafted OT Jedrick Wills, S Grant Delpit, C Nick Harris, TE Harrison Bryant, and DT Jordan Elliot.

2020 outlook

In the grand scheme, the Cleveland Browns defense got worse, while the offense got, younger. That’s good for tomorrow, but whether that will impact 2020 remains to be seen. I lean to the Browns improving to 7-9, simply because I’m uncertain if the Bengals or Steelers have improved much this year.