The Cleveland Browns 2024 NFL season is just a couple of days away. After a run to the NFL playoffs in 2023 despite mounting injuries, the Browns hope to return to the postseason and make even more noise with a healthy roster this year. A lot rides on QB Deshaun Watson’s return from injury and less-than-stellar play in his first two years in Cleveland.
While the hype will build over the weekend heading into the home opener with the Dallas Cowboys, the Browns must produce against a very tough schedule and a very good slate of quarterbacks.
The staff at DBN came together for this roundtable season preview giving you insight into where each of us are before the season starts including record predictions, breakout players and more:
How are you feeling about this current iteration of this year’s team?
Chris: I feel the Browns have a great deal of talent, but they still need to prove themselves in order for my confidence level to be higher, especially with the tougher schedule being thrown at them. On defense, they can still dominate some teams, but they had some really bat outings against teams that utilized misdirection wisely (including their playoff loss to the Texans) — have they done something to patch that up? On offense, we’re still playing the guessing game with Deshaun Watson heading into his third year instead of feeling like he has two seasons under his belt. Hopefully, he took notes on how well Joe Flacco utilized David Njoku to end the 2023 season.
Tom: I’m generally optimistic. Even though some are predicting a regression by the defense, I think they have the potential to be even better because they are now in year two under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. He laid a fantastic foundation last season, and now he can build on that with defensive end Myles Garrett leading the way. The offense should be good enough most weeks, and possibly very good at times, as long as Deshaun Watson stays healthy and does not make a ton of mistakes.
Barry: I don’t believe the Browns have a good receiver group at all, and is just sub-par. Both Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy are both actors who are supposed to be world-beaters, but neither has shown anything in the pros so far. So back to the dependence of Amari Cooper and David Njoku to bail out those critical third-and-long plays. If Nick Chubb returns, and is his former self, I would foresee a more disciplined attack. Hopefully, Deshaun Watson can be the Texans version once again because the Browns version of himself is disappointing so far. Here is hoping he is the Comeback Player of the Year and tears up defenses with his legs. People will write songs about this defense this year and will keep Cleveland in a lot of games.
EZ: Yeah I’ve never been more confident in any Browns’ team going into any season than I am this one. This is the most complete roster and coaching staff we’ve had – even with the loss of Bill Callahan. A lot of people continue to belly-ache about Watson but I don’t have that problem because I actually watched the games he played last last year (multiple times – including A22) and I noticed that whenever he started we tended to absolutely clobber the teams we played (3-0 record at home, 78-6 point differential). So if we just get that level of performance out of him over the course of an entire season, we’ll be very good. If he actually improves (which figures to happen with the offense now specifically tailored to him) then we are the best team in the NFL and I’m happy for that statement to be backed up on the field. To say I’m bullish is an understatement.
Jared: I believe the Browns have the best roster in the NFL if you take QB out of the discussion. As everyone has noted, almost everything weighs on Watson this season. As Shannon Sharpe said, if Watson is 80-90% of the guy he was in Houston, Cleveland should make the AFC Championship game.
Matt: To be 100% honest, I feel incredibly optimistic about this year’s team. Not only do I believe that this is one of the best rosters that Cleveland’s ever had but I think it might be the best roster in the league. This is the team and coaching staff that Andrew Berry has been dreaming of since he became the GM in 2020. It’s go time, no more room for excuses.
Curtiss: I feel cautiously optimistic about this year’s team. Believe it or not this team has a top 15, dare I say top 10 roster. It’s not a hot take to say. Defensively, this is an elite unit that will likely get better and improve on the things that they struggled with last year. Will there be some regression in areas? Yes. But the defense will be elite and will fix the road woes that they had last season. Offensively, the wide receiver room is better (we said that last year) but Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and Elijah Moore are an underrated trio that will be good and Jamari Thrash, Cedric Tillman and David Bell can find ways to contribute. As far as the quarterback goes, all Deshaun Watson has to do is play well. I don’t think he’s been as bad as people claim, but he needs to play to the level he’s capable of. They are a talented team, but not overly confident just fairly confident.
Damon: It has certainly been a unique training camp and preseason. As I’ve stated before, it has felt more like an extension of OTA’s versus a normal camp. My expectations are still high overall although it wouldn’t surprise me if they spent the first four weeks of the season working out the kinks.
Name a player that you believe will break out this year and contribute at a high level
Chris: He has already broken out to a degree, but I think CB Martin Emerson could take it to a new level. We saw how much he wanted to challenge receivers in training camp, making every day a competition. After several solid seasons, I think he puts everything together to perhaps be the team’s top cornerback.
Tom: He may have already “broken out” last season, but linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah should hit that next level this season. His quickness can be a game changer, and having one of the league’s top defensive lines in front of him should free him up to make the type of impact plays that garner attention and turn games in Cleveland’s favor.
Barry: OT Dawand Jones. will make his first Pro Bowl and remain healthy all year.
EZ: I don’t know if “break out” is the right way to put it but I do think that near the end of the year we’ll be talking about the importance of re-signing Tony Fields Jr. I see him contributing at a Taki-type level (if not the exact same role)
Jared: Given all the defensive talent, I think
Matt: DE Isaiah McGuire has been a standout throughout the offseason and has played very well during the preseason on both defense and special teams. It wouldn’t surprise me if he sees 200+ snaps in 2024.
Curtiss: Buy all the Cedric Tillman stock now. It appeared that he has committed himself this offseason by evolving his game in some ways. Route running looks crisp, he looks good coming out of his breaks and he looks confident in his game. Playing in a new offense with a diverse route tree after not having that in college will do wonders for anyone.
Damon: Is it possible that Alex Wright could be second to Myles in sack totals? That answer is yes, and perhaps Wright ascends the depth chart at the defensive end group.
What is the ceiling for this year’s team
Chris: With that defense and the potential for the offense, the ceiling is definitely the Super Bowl. Heck, they made the playoffs last year despite all of the injuries they had. If they make the postseason this year, it will have been earned through a battle-tested schedule that should build some focus and toughness for a better playoff outcome than a season ago. Getting to the playoffs will be tough still, though, because even if Cleveland plays very well, they could lose a lot of coin-flip games.
Tom: Wow, hard to say the ceiling is the Super Bowl seeing as how the Browns have not played in the league title game since 1964 and the AFC is stacked. But if they stay healthy then the playoffs are certainly attainable. From there, it all comes down to the matchups.
Barry: Record will be good until the final five games which is where they will falter. Offensive line will be another revolving door of guys which kills this offense.
EZ: This team could absolutely win the Super Bowl, no doubt. They had a track for the 1st seed last year just before Watson got hurt.
Jared: As I noted above, I believe this is a Super Bowl-caliber team. The two things that keep me from betting that are the presence of Patrick Mahomes and the uncertainty of Watson. A good Watson and Mahomes being in the NFC means a Super Bowl ceiling.
Matt: I think it would be a failed season if the Browns don’t win the division. If Deshaun Watson stays healthy and performs at even an average to above-average level in 2024 then there’s no doubt in my mind that a Super Bowl victory is their ceiling.
Curtiss: At best, this is a team with an AFC title game ceiling. The question is can they get there? It’s a possibility. It all depends on the QB (as we’ve stated time and time again.) We saw this team beat San Francisco & Baltimore last season (San Fran made the Super Bowl while Baltimore was in the AFC title game) and at one point, many believed those teams were unbeatable. When you talk about playoff contenders in the AFC, Cleveland has earned the right to be in those conversations.
Damon: With the amount of resources being spent, the expectation should be competing for a Super Bowl.
Team’s signature win prediction this year
Chris: Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore has been leading the AFC North for a while now, and it’ll be Cleveland’s only chance to take that away from them until Week 18 rolls around.
Tom: Week 15 at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. If you want to be the top dog, then you have to beat the champ. Take down the Chiefs and the confidence level should be high heading into a tough final three-game stretch run to the playoffs.
Barry: Beat the Steelers twice this year, but lose to the Ravens twice so it evens out. Split with Cincy.
EZ: One of the Steeler wins is going to be decisive in a way that will cause Pittsburgh people to start burning Mike Tomlin effigies in their front yards
Jared: Chiefs. Coming off back-to-back AFC West games with the Houston Texans just six days later, Cleveland gets a huge win at home.
Matt: I don’t believe that there’s going to be a signature “win” in regards to a single game. It’s more important to dominate the division in 2024. If they go 5-1 in the division then that’ll say more about this year’s team than any single win in the regular season.
Curtiss: Week 15 against the Chiefs. Streets think it might be an AFC Title game preview but not getting ahead of myself.
Damon: Week 6 against the Eagles will be circled on my calendar. If they can come out of that against another Super Bowl-caliber roster with a win, it could set the tone for the remainder of the season.
Record prediction and how the season will end
Chris: The Browns will go 11-6 again. Every team in the AFC North was above .500 last year, but I also remember how the Ravens were lucky to escape with a few victories. I think you could see three AFC North teams tie for the division lead, which will make tiebreakers and those Week 18 games (Cleveland vs. Baltimore, Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh) very important.
Tom: Anything and everything is on the table. Let’s go 11-6 and another Wild Card bid.
Barry: Have you looked at the Browns’ schedule? It is brutal. 10-7-0, just barely miss that last Wild Card spot but was in it until the final week
EZ: 13-4, AFC North Champs…at least the Divisional round
Jared: 12-5, the record they would have been if they cared about Week 18 last year. Cleveland will care more about the division than they have in the past to try to get that playoff home game. Despite the very hard schedule, the Browns will compete for the top spot in the AFC.
Matt: 12-5. AFC North Champions for the first time since 1989.
Curtiss: 11-6. I can’t see a world in which this team gets worse considering how many injuries they dealt with last year. As far as the schedule being difficult, Personally I don’t care. Schedule strength is slowly becoming overrated to an extent. AFC North has always been tough but their remaining stretch of games, Week 14 @ Steelers (on a short week), Week 15 against the Chiefs, Week 16 @ Cincy and Week 17 home finale against Miami will be telling.
Damon: Due to a slow start offensively and a tough schedule down the stretch, I predict an 11-6 finish that ultimately wins the division. I expect to host the first playoff game and ultimately end up in the AFC title game.
Now it is your turn, join us in the comment section below to answer any or all of these questions:
- How are you feeling about this current iteration of this year’s team?
- Name a player that you believe will break out this year and contribute at a high level
- What is the ceiling for this year’s team
- Team’s signature win prediction this season
- Record prediction and how the season will end