A year removed from the Deshaun Watson trade, the Cleveland Browns appear to be ready to make a run in the AFC. With one of the best overall rosters in the league, the Browns have the talent on both sides of the ball to be a double-digit win football team.
BetOhio.com – your source for Ohio sports betting – wondered just how ready the Browns are to make a move in the loaded AFC North.
Is this the year they finally get over the hump and make a deep postseason run? How much have off-season moves helped or hurt? And have the oddsmakers shifted the Browns’ line much since the final game of the season?
The Browns knew they would have decisions to make in NFL free agency and had to be smart without high picks in the draft.
With both portions of the off-season schedule cleared, here is where Cleveland stands.
Notable Free-Agent Additions: DT Dalvin Tomlinson, WR Elijah Moore (trade), S Juan Thornhill
Notable Free-Agent Losses: DE Jadeveon Clowney, RB Kareem Hunt, S John Johnson III
Top Draft Picks: WR Cedric Tillman, DT Siaki Ika, RT Dawand Jones
Cleveland Browns 2023 Super Bowl Odds
Here is how the Browns’ Super Bowl odds have shifted during various parts of the off-season at BetMGM Sportsbook Ohio:
As you can see, the Browns have their Super Bowl odds trending in the right direction over the past three months. With all their key additions on defense, that unit looks to be significantly improved. Defense was the Browns’ biggest issue down the stretch and they appear to have filled some of their holes on that side of the ball. Plus, the addition of veteran defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz should allow the defense to play at a higher level in 2023.
The biggest reason why the Browns might not be able to make a run this season is due to the overall strength of the division. The AFC North looks like it will be among the most competitive divisions in football this season.
Recently, BetOhio.com analyzed the Browns’ toughest stretch of the schedule in 2023.
So, how do the Browns stack up in their division going into the year? Let’s look at the odds for Cleveland to win the AFC North during the 2023-2024 season to see if they have increased or decreased following the NFL Draft, again via BetMGM.
Cleveland Browns 2023 AFC North Odds
The AFC North odds for the Browns improved after free agency, but they’ve settled back to +350 after the 2023 NFL Draft. That’s not a huge surprise given that the Browns didn’t make a pick until the third round. Still, they have the third-best odds to win the division behind the Bengals (+115) and the Ravens (+250).
Fans also might be looking for odds at Bally Sportsbook Ohio, since the Browns named Bally their official sports betting partner last year.
Marcus’s Verdict
If the Browns are going to make a postseason run anytime soon, now is the year to do it. BetOhio.com has even more on the Browns' playoff chances and Super Bowl odds.
Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett and Deshaun Watson are in the prime of their careers and this is easily the most talented roster they’ve had in decades. The biggest question is if Watson can get back to his Pro Bowl form in Cleveland.
If the answer is yes, the Browns might be the most dangerous team in the division. But if he struggles and can’t find any consistent rhythm in the offense, the Browns most likely will finish at the bottom of the AFC North once again.
Having said that, the Browns aren’t a bad bet to win the AFC North at +350. And given that their odds have decreased some since the end of the draft, now might be the time to bet them given their current price. The Browns have a lot of sleeper potential, even in the loaded AFC.
