Cleveland Browns get no post-Draft love in updated NFL Power Rankings

Leave it to the NFL’s Power Rankings to not see improvements with the Cleveland Browns following a successful off-season of acquisitions and moves.

The Cleveland Browns have had an A+ offseason unless you look at the NFL’s Power Rankings. They secured two new starters for the offensive line, even though they needed three. They upgraded at tight end considerably, got a top-flight fullback, and revamped the entire defense. Revamped, not necessarily improved to be fair. At least on paper. The offense will return mostly the same and the defense will be mostly filled with question marks but the team did take steps to be better on the field in 2020 but anyone with a clue would tell you that between the free agents and the draft picks the Browns are (hopefully) better today than they were at the end of the 2019 season.

Everyone but the NFL. They don’t think the Browns got better, even a little. The NFL’s official power rankings have them no higher than No. 19 out of 32 teams. Now, we’re not asking that they be ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs, or heck, even in the top half of the list, but couldn’t go up at least one spot?

From the NFL’s official website;

"It’s all there for Baker Mayfield. The Browns’ talented crop of playmakers got better with the addition of tight end Austin Hooper in free agency. The offensive line got a much-needed makeover at tackle with the arrival of free-agent acquisition Jack Conklin and first-round pick Jedrick Wills. The obvious holes are gone, and so are the excuses for Mayfield, who disappointed mightily in 2019 after a record-setting rookie campaign. Give the Browns credit: They still believe in Mayfield’s potential, and they have done everything they can — from coaching hires to roster moves — to put the former No. 1 overall pick in a position to succeed. Now all Mayfield has to do is … make the leap."

The Raiders drafted something like 48 receivers in the draft and they moved up one spot but the Browns actually address (just about) every position of need in one off-season and they stay flat because Baker Mayfield had a down year? Twenty touchdowns in back-to-back seasons, the only other guy in 40 years to do that in Cleveland is Brian Sipe. Yet, it’s Mayfield’s fault the team can’t get any love? That’s trash.

Mayfield wasn’t the problem, he was the casualty from last year’s debacle. This team was built by a man who put zero stock in a player’s morality or ethical compass. So, of course, the team had chemistry issues, as most of the roster were as volatile as can be. New coach Kevin Stefanski isn’t going to let that be a lingering problem (hopefully) and this team should be far more disciplined.

Not giving the Browns even one bump up the rankings is a farce.