Steelers AFC North Rivals Slammed As Desperate In 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a productive, strategic offseason that has the fanbase energized and hopeful ahead of training camp. Exciting rookies and veteran newcomers are looking to come together and make 2023 another positive step forward for the historic franchise. As for the Steelers nearby rivals, the Cleveland Browns, the offseason has been different than the one fans in Pittsburgh are enjoying. The questions in Cleveland are plentiful, but not enough answers were found, and the national media is wondering whether the Browns' offseason has been merely flailing about rather than making progress.

Steelers Rivals Find Themselves In A Win-Now Scenario

When you look around the NFL at the teams that are built to "win now", the Browns aren't really one of the squads that would be included on that list. The 2021 Los Angeles Rams are a prime example of a team that spent enormous amounts of money and relied on bought talent to get them a Super Bowl title, this year's Miami Dolphins are a team that is trading and spending for a roster built to win now. It's become a more popular method of constructing a successful football team, but the risk is high and the rewards are usually short-lived. Look at the 2022 Rams to see the fallout.

So, the question is whether the 2023 Browns can be considered among those kinds of built-by-buying teams. According to The Athletic, which did a "whip-around" of the AFC North, the moves made by the Browns this offseason are anything but progress. Zack Jackson, who covers the Browns for The Athletic, understands that sometimes a team being "desperate" isn't always a bad thing. However, there isn't much evidence that Cleveland is using that desperation for moves in their best interest.

At the core of the issue is Deshaun Watson, the controversial quarterback brought in on a massive $230 million contract. That amount of money is ridiculous for a player who is surrounded by embattled court problems, who didn't play for an entire year, and who looked mediocre at best in his 2022 showing. To make it worse, Cleveland gave up their first-round picks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, plus a 2023 third-round and 2024 fourth-round pick. All the Houston Texans had to do was let Watson go and give up a 2024 fifth-round draft pick. From every angle that looks iffy at best.

"Desperate...They’ve spent more than $300 million in cash to build this roster. They’ve made outrageous salary-cap commitments for well down the road, and just 16 months ago they traded three first-round picks to get a player who had to sit out 11 games last season for multiple violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy."

Steelers Watch As Cleveland Seeks Success At All Costs

The question of whether Watson is worth the team potentially mortgaging its future for can't be answered yet, but the early returns show a drastic imbalance in what was given for what was gained. For a player like Watson who may never get out from under the shadow of his own issues, he doesn't currently seem like a player who can shoulder the Browns for a season and will them to success. So, is the rest of Cleveland's roster built to support Watson until he gets back to his former, dynamic self?

Nick Chubb is a formidable running back that has the ability to be the workhorse, and on the other side of the ball is Myles Garrett, one of the league's best pass rushers. Both are still incredible athletes that can change a game in a moment, but Chubb isn't getting any younger and that danger zone of 30 years will be here soon. The window on Chubb being able to run with the bruising effect he does is 2-3 years deep, if that. Garrett won't have that worry for a bit, but the other role players on the team has already passed ages when teams start to worry. Jackson already sees concern, though.

"Add that studs like Myles Garrett and Nick Chubb are in their seventh and sixth seasons, respectively, and that Amari Cooper, Dalvin Tomlinson, Za’Darius Smith and Joel Bitonio are all near or over 30..."

Considering what the Browns invested in Watson, both in money and draft capital, the franchise is betting on the roster they already have to be the dominant force in the AFC North. To be honest, even in the vacuum of Cleveland, the roster isn't the kind that looks poised to take over the league, let alone challenge in a fiercely competitive division. When put next to teams like the Cincinnati Bengals or the Kansas City Chiefs, making a case for the Browns becomes incredibly difficult.

Desperate may not always be the wrong move, but for Cleveland, it doesn't look like their desperation is going to get them to the top of the AFC North. Any given Sunday is true, but reality must have its say as well. 2023 may just be the dose of reality that the Browns would rather not accept.

Where will the Browns finish in AFC North this season?

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