Cleveland Browns; Tony Grossi’s 2021 offseason grades for AFC North

Grossi’s Grade: C-

Ben Roethlisberger wants to make one more run at the Super Bowl, and while it’s easy to pile on the veteran for Pittsburgh’s playoff loss, I’m not ready to retire him yet.

After all, he was tied for seventh in the NFL With 33 touchdown passes last season. The Browns have never had a quarterback throw for more than 27 scores in a season.

Thats said, he’s approaching 40 and the second half of the 2020 season went a lot different than the first half for Big Ben and company. There was a vulnerability on the Steelers unseen by a generation of Browns fans until last January.

Grossi had the Steelers ranked 18th in his power rankings, noting the Steelers didn’t do enough to upgrade the offensive line. Rather then build the trenches, Pittsburgh drafted Clemson running back Najee Harris, indicating they intend to get back to the rushing attack.

That’s all well and good, but can they block?

Now, it looks like Pittsburgh could have as many as three new starters on the offensive-line. Longtime center Maurikice Pouncey retired, while tackle Alejandro Villanueva nows plays for the Ravens.

They didn’t take a lineman until the third round, selecting Illinois guard/center Kendrick Greenk.

Defensively, Pittsburgh suffered as well. They lost Bud Dupree to free agency, who, when on the field with T.J. Watt, looked unstoppable. When Dupree wasn’t on the field in Cleveland’s playoff victory, Watt was mostly unnoticeable, even with a banged up Browns offensive line.

Fair Grade: It’s hard to argue with Grossi’s grade. Browns fans know all to well what happens when you try to patch up an offensive line on the cheap.