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Late last week, we looked at how ESPN considered the Cleveland Browns a wildcard sleeper candidate for 2018. They aren’t the only media organization pumping up the Browns -- in an article hyping up the most improved team in each division in the NFL, Pro Football Focus chose Cleveland for the AFC North.
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PFF acknowledged that no one can replace Joe Thomas on the blind side, but that the “sheer multitude of talent they brought in over the course of the offseason [makes his departure] look far less consequential.”
The Browns brought in four different players who had grade of 80.0-plus in the NFL a season ago as well as four of the top 35 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Browns arguably had a greater influx of talent than any team in the NFL this offseason. The cherry on the top is the addition of the No. 1 player on PFF’s big board – and owner of the two highest graded seasons we’ve ever given to a college quarterback – Baker Mayfield.
We’ll eat up all the praise the Browns are getting after two years of 1-31!