Here’s a look at the Super Bowl prospects of the Cleveland Browns, who finished the season 1-15:
Browns Super Bowl barometer: Nowhere close
Assessing the foundation: Owner Jimmy Haslam is not giving up on the unique structure he put in place a year ago that has a former general counsel teaming with a former baseball executive teaming with an analytics group teaming with a traditional scouting group to pick players. Coach Hue Jackson seems ensconced, but another miserable season would bring more pressure. The Browns have the first and 12th picks in the draft, and they have an extra second-round pick as well. This management team needs to hit on the draft, and needs to start seeing more impact from last year's draft group. Most importantly, it needs to find a quarterback.
Judging the quarterback: What a jumbled mess. The Browns could bring Robert Griffin III back, but they did not seem inclined to do so when the 2016 season ended. They could turn to Cody Kessler, who led the team in passing yards as a rookie but whose arm seems ill-equipped for the AFC North. They could try to draft a player like Deshaun Watson of Clemson or Mitch Trubisky of North Carolina or DeShone Kizer of Notre Dame, but none are ready to play right away. At least that's the conventional wisdom. The problem is if the Browns don't take a quarterback first, they probably won't get one in the first round. Because despite the analysis that the quarterbacks are not first-round or top-10 worthy, teams will take them because the position is so important. The evidence will be on the field Sunday in both the NFC and AFC championship games. All four of the teams have big, strong, stand-in-the-pocket quarterbacks. That emphasizes the importance of the position. As for free agency, a player like Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor might intrigue the Browns. He was durable, productive and he took care of the ball for two years as the Bills starter. All are traits that Jackson demands from the position.
Realistic ways the Browns can improve their chances to contend for a Super Bowl:
Find a quarterback. It seems that Noah built the ark and loaded the animals faster than it's taken the Browns to find the most important player on the team. The Browns keep flailing. The scouts need to find a quarterback who can play. The team needs to bring him in, support him and stand by him while he grows. It's the only way to win in this age of the NFL.
Re-sign Terrelle Pryor and Jamie Collins. Not because either player is a superstar. They're not. But they're very good players and it's past time for the Browns to stop letting young players heading into their prime depart. Fans are sick of the playoffs being a showplace for ex-Browns who were allowed to leave. The team should be as well.
Get some impact defensive players. The Browns had very little overall talent on defense last season, and it cost Ray Horton his job. Enter the coach with the 'tude, Gregg Williams. He will be aggressive and attacking, but to do that and have it matter, the Browns need players who make an offense sit up and take notice.