The Cleveland Browns have had an interesting offseason with more moves yet to come. QB Baker Mayfield has likely played his last down for the team, despite one expert thinking he could fill in if needed, while Deshaun Watson awaits potential discipline.
Jadeveon Clowney is still expected to return, perhaps when mandatory minicamps end, but nothing is certain there.
The Browns could also make a play for some of the other veterans still on the market. Ndamukong Suh was predicted to sign with the team and a few receivers, including Julio Jones and Will Fuller, also remain on the market.
We share previously that Cleveland is the betting favorite in the AFC North and in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.
With the schedule out and a majority of the offseason moves made, ESPN has released their Football Power Index information. They have the Browns as the tenth best team in the NFL:
2022 Football Power Index ratings and rankings!
The rating itself indicates approximately how much better or worse — in points — that team is predicted to be, relative to an average NFL team on a neutral field.
It is a predictive rating. pic.twitter.com/9oDRKm8nKR
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) May 17, 2022
FPI also has Cleveland with a 35% chance of winning the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens just slightly behind at 32% and last year’s division winner, the Cincinnati Bengals, with only a 24% chance.
The Browns have been hyped up before but both betting lines and analytical lines are presenting the same thing before the start of minicamps. Like all analyses, what matters is what happens on the field. For now, Cleveland is looked at as one of the top teams in the NFL.