NFL Insider: Cleveland Browns have most complete team in 2021
By Randy Gurzi
NFL writer Marc Ross ranks the most complete teams in the league heading into 2021 and the Cleveland Browns came in at No. 1 overall
It’s not just fans of the team that are saying this Cleveland Browns roster is loaded, it’s everyone who pays attention to the NFL. And now, we can count another NFL.com writer among the fans of what Andrew Berry has done with the Cleveland roster.
Marc Ross recently ranked teams with the most complete roster heading into the season and the Browns came in at No. 1 overall, edging out the defending NFL Champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It feels weird to have Cleveland mentioned in the same breath as the Bucs — let alone ahead of them — but that’s been the norm this offseason. In addition to being ranked ahead of the champs here, Cleveland was just said to be “neck and neck” with the Kansas City Chiefs who are two-time AFC Champions and won the Super Bowl the year before Tampa Bay did.
As for Ross, he was incredibly complimentary of the Browns roster, saying that they have Pro Bowl players at just about every position across the board.
"“The Browns have been building a respectable roster for several years now. But heading into the 2021 season, they aren’t just good — they’re loaded with Pro Bowl talent from top to bottom, featuring multiple high-level players at almost every position group.”"
Ross did say the Browns had some questions on their special teams but at this point, if the only real issues are the kickers, then things are looking up.
He also touted the running game with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt still playing at a high level which makes them the top running back duo in the game. There’s also the return of Odell Beckham, Jr. and the rise of Baker Mayfield who was on fire down the stretch in 2020.
But the real impressive work was done on the defensive side of the ball. With Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward already on board, Cleveland added John Johnson, Troy Hill, Jadeveon Clowney, Takk McKinley, Greg Newsome, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. In other words, they’re stacked now.
Next. 5 players who could still surprisingly be cut. dark
The only question remaining is if the staff can get these guys in position to succeed on defense. And if they do, this could be a great campaign for the Browns.