Browns aren't inspiring many when looking ahead to the 2024 season
2024 will be a make-or-break season for Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns. However, few pundits appear eager to pick the Browns as AFC North champs.
The AFC North may be the best division in football.
That truth isn't doing the Cleveland Browns any favors among the pundit class, who aren't as keen on the rather unspectacular offseason moves made by the front office.
Bleacher Report recently predicted the final records of every team in the league. When the national outlet got to Cleveland, Maurice Moton had the Browns as the last team in the AFC North with a record of 8-9.
"Though the Cleveland Browns made the playoffs last year, how can any objective pundit confidently pick them to make the postseason in back-to-back years with a quarterback who's struggled on the field and with injuries?" Moton probed.
"With Chubb on the mend, the Browns may have to rely heavily on Watson to play like the Texans version of himself in the upcoming season, which may be troublesome for this offense."
Everyone can see that the 2024 season will come down to answering one question: What version of Watson will Cleveland get?
In the previous two seasons, Watson has been unavailable for a myriad of reasons. Then, in the 12 games Watson has played, he hasn't been spectacular. Watson has averaged around 184 yards per game and a 59 completion percentage. A far cry from his numbers with the Houston Texans.
Then there is the question of Nick Chubb. If he comes back and remains among the elite running backs in the NFL, the offense could fair well. However, if Chubb isn't the NFL's most efficient running back, Cleveland could be dead on arrival.
It doesn't help that Cleveland is playing in the toughest division in football. But all of these are questions that can only be answered once the team hits the field.
