Can the Browns Go From Worst to First in 2018? Pro Football Weekly Discusses Their Chances

There’s been plenty of buzz around the Browns since the NFL Draft nearly two weeks ago, as many think that the turnaround for the team will (hopefully) be swift, and not the long drawn out process that it’s taken for the team to start winning.

Today Pro Football Weekly’s Eric Edholm put out an article ranking all eight last place teams from the 2017 season, and if there’s a chance they can make it all the way to first place in 2018.

While the Browns rank 7th of 8th to find a way to best the Steelers for the Divisional Title, there’s hope on the horizon, and Edholm writes that in his take on the Brown and Orange.

There’s genuine and perhaps even legitimate excitement following a major overhaul this offseason. An offense that was dead last in points scored and absolutely miserable in the red zone has added upgrades at QB (Tyrod Taylor, Baker Mayfield and Drew Stanton), running back (Carlos Hyde and Nick Chubb), receiver (Jarvis Landry and Antonio Callaway, if he can stay out of trouble), hired Todd Haley to call plays and at least given themselves options to replace Joe Thomas at left tackle.

Can they create turnovers on defense? Make vast improvements on special teams? Big questions for sure. And naturally, there’s some real doubt about how 1-31 Hue Jackson will coach knowing that he needs to really knock it out of the park in Year 3 to keep his gig.

Another big obstacle is the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team they’ve beaten once since 2012, who should be the division favorites again. The Browns would have to go from zero victories to, you have to figure, at least 10 to win the AFC North. Remember, the Ravens are still a competitive club, and they’ve also had Cleveland’s number in recent years (2-18 since 2007).