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Cleveland Browns open up at the bottom of 2017 power rankings

By Steven Kubitza

Dec 11, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) throws a pass as Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) closes in during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) throws a pass as Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) closes in during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Browns were awful in 2016 and will have to earn back some respect in 2017 to move out of the basement of national power rankings.

The NFL season is officially over and once again the Cleveland Browns had a forgettable season.

Fans are hoping that the 1-15 record in 2016 will be improved upon in 2017, which should be possible given the fact it is hard to be that bad in consecutive seasons.

But as of right now, the Browns remain as one of the worst teams in the NFL heading into next season. That was evident in ESPN’s first power rankings of 2017, in which the Browns finished in the familiar No. 32 spot.

It was a spot held by the Browns for much of the 2016 season, so it is not surprising that the team isn’t expected to do all that well next year.

But these power rankings reflect what happened last year, and a great draft by the Browns could lead to better things in 2017.

Owning picks No. 1 and No. 12 overall should lead to the Browns acquiring some franchise-changing players who will be here for the next decade. Although that is the ideal view, as the Browns have not done great with drafting since returning to the NFL in 1999.

But the new front office seems to have the right mindset, and it is hard to miss out on talent when owning the No. 1 overall pick. Let’s hope that remains true.

The team should also improve if a new quarterback is added, as Robert Griffin III was a poor choice to open the season as the starter. He missed the majority of the season due to injury, but having him take the first-team reps throughout training camp did nothing to help the backups when he went down.

Next: Front office ready to move on from current QBs

Browns fans should not be frustrated with these initial power rankings, as the Browns clearly earned this spot after a 1-15 record last season. The goal will be to prove the doubters wrong and come out and be competitive next season. Few are expecting a playoff berth, but even winning six or seven games would be considered a success, and would help move the Browns out of the NFL’s basement.

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