Cleveland Browns ended the season 11-7 with a loss in the wild card but the season was a success with all things considered.

Injuries mounted for the Browns all season and still, they made the playoffs which was a feat in its own right.

Kevin Stefanski won Coach of the Year for a second time in four seasons and he and GM Andrew Berry are both in line to soon receive extensions. They’re a huge part of the success in Cleveland and there are a few reasons to expect the success to carry over.

Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson return

Chubb was lost for the season in Week 2 and Watson only played five games and a couple of drives for the Browns in 2023. Cleveland went the majority of the season without their offensive identity and it was noticed.

Watson is in a situation where he needs to perform in Year No. 3. The suspension is over, the injury will be over, and it’ll be a clean slate. If it doesn’t happen the third go around, there is no reason to expect that it ever will.

Cleveland’s starter did show glimpses in 2023, especially in his last couple of games. The Browns hope that Chubb can return near to what he was at least, and probably at a different dollar amount too. These are just two players that will be back healthy.

Year No. 2 under Jim Schwartz as the defensive coordinator

Cleveland’s defense was one of the best in the NFL at home and was undeniably the best at home. The unit will have to travel better in 2024 against a tougher schedule, but year No. 1 was better results than anyone could have imagined.

The Browns made big investments in the defense and it came together under the leadership of Schwartz. His aggressiveness with the front seven has fit this team like a glove. One would expect the defense to be even healthier in 2024 and have the goal to show that 2023 was not a fluke.

Browns have the ammo to get better

The future is bright in Cleveland due to roster building. While the Browns may appear over the cap now, they’ll rework contracts to change that soon. Cleveland is going to be able to bring in free agents at multiple positions.

Additionally, April is the last draft and the Browns do not have their first-round pick. Cleveland does have eight picks in the 2024 NFL Draft though, it’ll present an opportunity to improve too.

It isn’t every team in the NFL that can work contracts like the Browns, because oftentimes it takes putting that money up front.

Despite what you may hear about the Browns going forward, they’re going to be fine and they have a pretty good window. Yes, even with Watson as the guy behind center.