The Browns look like a 5 win team to the Village Elliot

First of all, the Browns play in the National Football League, the league where anything can happen and usually does, so there is always hope. Play hard, coach hard and smart and there is always a chance you might win. So, I'm not giving up, I'm not saying the situation is hopeless, and I'm not blaming the quarterback for everything--in fact most of the problems are outside the quarterback's control-- but I am saying that the Browns have made some very serious mistakes in constructing their roster and very likely they are set up to lose and lose a lot. 

 I am not and x's and o's guy by any means, but it does not take a Braniac to realize there is a serious problem. Ever since they brought Deshaun Watson was brought in, they have done everything possible to make a run at the Super Bowl, luring free agents to Cleveland by deferring compensation to future years, and to the max. They act like a rich kid handed a credit card with a $100,000 credit line, and no restrictions on what they are allowed to buy. Well, those due bills are piling up. This year their salary cap is being charged $119 million dollars to players who are no longer with the team. Plus, Deshaun's $41 million is money they wish they could get back. That's $160 MILLION misspent on the 2026 cap. That's four Myles Garretts or four and a half Baker Mayfields. It is impossible to believe that any team can blow that much money and still excel at the NFL level. 

Todd Monken is not thrilled with the prospect of having Deshaun as his quarterback, and has angrily denied even watching film of his quarterback in action when he was successful. That is just not good. I just have the feeling that these things take care of themselves and one way or another someone else will be quarterbacking the team later this season. However, a simple change at quarterback will not fix things. Are you excited at having five new faces on the offensive line? I'm not. I think it will take a long time for the O-Line to operate as a team within a team. Also, with the terrible situation at quarterback, it behooves the Browns to run the football. At present it looks like Quinshon Judkins is the only running back who will accumulate decent rushing yards. Dylan Sampson looks like a great pass receiver, but can he get to about 4 yards per carry behind five new offensive linemen? 

Defensively, the Browns look much better with a viable big three in Jared Verse, Carson Schwessinger and Denzel Ward, and a viable supporting cast. They are solid and deep up front, having drafted Mason Graham in Round 1 last season, and pairing him with veteran Maliek Collins. They have viable starters in the defensive backfield with Ronnie Hickman, Tyson Campbell, Grant Delpit and Myles Hardin, but it's less clear how good their second string is. Similarly, they did well to pick up  Quincy Williams from the Jets for the linebackers room. In a 4-2-5 base, the first string looks tough. Maybe they can win a few 17-14 affairs.