The Cleveland Browns' Biggest 2019 Offseason Moves - Odds and Predictions

Talk about a turn-around, the Cleveland Browns went from being a 1-31 team a few seasons ago to posting an almost .500 record last season to being considered the favorites to win their division and maybe even make a Super Bowl appearance sometime soon.

It all has to do with the magic that second-year general manager John Dorsey seems capable of bringing to the table, including the ability to spot useful talent, to make solid (and even miraculous) free agent signings, and to draft franchise-level talent who retain their value over time.

The 2019 Cleveland Browns are going places, and they’re making the moves that prove it, and here we take a look at all the offseason action they’ve been a part of as well as look at the odds and predictions of their 2019-20 season.

You can also take a look at the what other NFL are teams are up to this offseason. We covered the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and the Kansas City Chiefs biggest offseason moves. 

The 2019 Cleveland Browns are:

• Owner: Jimmy and Dee Haslam
• General Manager: John Dorsey (Hired December 2017)
• Head Coach: Freddie Kitchens (Promoted January 2019)
• Offensive Coordinator: Todd Monken (Hired January 2019)
• Defensive Coordinator: Steve Wilks (Hired January 2019)
• Quarterback: Baker Mayfield (2nd NFL season)
• Offensive Stars: Wide Receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry
• Defensive Stars: Defensive Myles Garrett, Cornerback Denzel Ward

The Browns scored WHO from the New York Giants?

The biggest offseason news for the 2019 Cleveland Browns is the trade for Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants, arguably one of the top three wide receivers in the NFL.

Turns out Browns general manager John Dorsey and Giants general manager David Gettleman had been slow-talking the deal for a while now and were able to come to terms with a trade that will give quarterback Baker Mayfield the veteran deep threat he was lacking last season.

Despite having just signed Beckham for a five-year, $90 million extension in August 2018, Gettleman took a 1^st round draft pick (17^th overall), a 3^rd round pick (95^th overall) and safety Jabrill Peppers, who was a first-round draft pick in 2017.

How did the Browns do in 2018?

Compared to what?

If you compare the 2018 Browns’ record of 7-8-1 with teams who made the playoffs last season, then the Browns didn’t do so well.

But compare that to their previous season when they went 0-16 and the season before that when they went 1-15, then suddenly almost breaking even looks pretty good.

Especially when you consider that midway through the season, Dorsey changed head coaches, offensive and defensive coordinators, all while being led by a rookie quarterback who didn’t practice with the starters in training camp and didn’t start in the regular season until Week 4.

Biggest strategy shift Browns will make for 2019?

For the first time in a long time, the Cleveland Browns aren’t required to use the draft and free agency to shop for a franchise quarterback. Or a pass rusher. Or a running back or wide receiver.

There are still some depth issues on the offensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary, but the 2019 Cleveland Browns have the luxury of creating depth instead of filling major holes, and with a solid eye for talent like Dorsey has, the team roster should look plenty competitive by the time training camp begins.

The addition of wide receiver Beckham, running back Kareem Hunt (who will be eligible to play in Week 9), Second-team All-Pro defensive end Olivier Vernon and safety Morgan Burnett to an already talent-heavy roster has the football word predicting the Cleveland Browns as the 2019 AFC North Champs.

What major players have the Browns lost so far this offseason?

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Wide receiver Breshad Perriman, who just signed a one-year $4 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who will now play for the Houston Texans after signing a one-year deal for $900,000.

Safety Jabrill Peppers, who was part of the OBJ trade and went to the Giants.

Linebacker Jamie Collins, who was released by the Browns in March and remains a free agent.

What have been the Browns’ key free agent pick-ups this offseason?

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., (see above).

Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, who the Browns have signed to a three-year, $36 million deal, with $21 million guaranteed.

Defensive end Olivier Vernon, who came over in the overall trade of OBJ with the Giants.

Safety Morgan Burnett, who the Browns signed for a two-year, $7.5 million contract with $3.65 million guaranteed.

What are Cleveland’s Biggest Needs?

Offense: Offensive line depth

Defense: Cornerback, linebacker

What draft picks do the Browns have in 2019?

The Browns have 8 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, and they are:

• Round 2: No. 49 overall
• Round 3: No. 80
• Round 4: No. 119 
• Round 5: Nos. 144 (from Jaguars), 155, 170 (from Patriots) 
• Round 6: No. 189
• Round 7: No. 221 (from Jaguars)

How have the Browns done in the last ten postseasons?

Not only have the Browns not made the playoffs in the last ten seasons, but they’ve also been absent from the postseason for the last sixteen seasons in a row.

Since the Browns returned to the league as an expansion team back in 1999, they’ve been in just one playoff game, the 2002 Wild Card Playoffs when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 33-36.

Given all the high-level talent that’s part of the Browns’ roster now, it is only a matter of time before this team will finally see the postseason once again, if not the Big Game itself (if all the current hype is to be believed).

How are the Browns predicted to do during the 2019-20 season?

With Baker Mayfield under center throwing to receivers OBJ, Jarvis Landry, tight end David Njoku and dual-threat running back Duke Johnson Jr., new head coach Freddie Kitchens only has to do what he did for the second half of last season, which is put together a game plan that utilizes the team’s many new strengths.

The run game will be a huge factor for the 2019 Browns, with impressive second-year running back Nick Chubb returning to improve upon his impressive rookie debut.

Chubb will be joined by Kareem Hunt, who won’t see game time until Week 9 due to a suspension he’s serving for off field behavior that got him suspended from the Kansas City Chiefs mid last season.

The defense was a major weak link last year, so once some more defensive depth is drafted and traded for and added to Garrett and Vernon chasing down quarterbacks, the 2019 squad should be a major improvement over being ranked 30^th overall.

Why do the Browns have so many new coaches?

It’s a long and winding story, but in a nutshell, their prior head coach, Hue Jackson, was brought in by the previous front office and after a 2-5-1 start to the 2018 season was let go, and by that time he had an overall record of 3-36-1.

Dorsey also fired offensive coordinator Todd Haley and promoted defensive coordinator Gregg Williams as interim head coach and running backs coach Freddie Kitchens to offensive coordinator.

Kitchens so impressed Dorsey with his offensive play calling which helped the team finish the season with a 5-3 record and their rookie quarterback develop that he made him the new head coach, let William go and brought in offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks.

What are the current postseason odds and predictions for the 2019 Cleveland Browns?

According to the oddsmakers, the 2019-20 Cleveland Browns have the best chance to win their division, have a decent chance to win the AFC, and are tied with the Indianapolis Colts as the fifth most likely team to win the Super Bowl next season.

However good their roster looks on paper, though, it will take Kitchens being able to manage a locker room full of dynamic personalities and new coaches and creating game plans that begin to use OBJ to stretch the field.

Here are the current odds listed for the Browns’ postseason in 2019-20:

If you live in New Jersey and want to bet on futures in NFL you can do so on 888sport. Check out the latest odds here:

Good luck!

Cleveland Browns Postseason

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