Dawgs By Nature
These are annual predictions from two reliable sources
Every year during the summer, Pro Football Talk (PFT) and ESPN release their projected rankings for the upcoming NFL season.
The ESPN poll, called the “Football Power Index,” is a computer model, whereas the PFT rankings are performed by actual football experts. You know – people. Yesterday, we covered InMotion Football’s version for the Cleveland Browns, the Franchise Valuation Triangle, which is a little computer and a little human.
The NFL season is almost upon us as training camps begin at the end of this month. For the Browns, the rookies report on July 18, while the veterans show up on July 22.
PFT is regarded as one of the top websites that cover the NFL. They compile player stats for each game and then attach grades, which are highly regarded. These ratings may not necessarily come up in contract negotiations, but you can bet the people who make the money decisions have gazed at these rankings.
Their prediction rankings are called “2025 NFL Power Rankings.”
PFT’s top five include:
So, basically, no surprises at the top.
Where it gets kinda murky is with the final five on their list:
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
29. Miami Dolphins
31. New Orleans Saints
32. Cleveland Browns
Holy haberdashery, Batman! Is this a misprint? Was this list composed during the office summer hot dog keg party? Pass the Stadium Mustard and tell us this is just a rough draft.
To round out the remainder of the AFC North Division, the Cincinnati Bengals are listed at #14 while the Pittsburgh Steelers have a #16 ranking.
Most of the Cleveland fans have the same motto of “hope for the best and prepare for the worst.” Since the new Browns came into existence in 1999, the franchise has not resembled its successful past for one second. The history of this club has eight pro football championships in two leagues and, at one time, went to 10 consecutive title game appearances, a record that no other team has come close to matching.
Understandably, the Browns lost 14 games in 2024 after an 11-win season the year before. We get it. We don’t like it, but somehow, we are used to this.
There have been media stories lately about the Browns tanking so that they can draft University of Texas signalcaller Arch Manning in next year’s draft. Both of his uncles, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, were ultra-successful in the NFL with two Super Bowl rings apiece, and each was named the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Archie Manning could have been one of the best quarterbacks ever if he had ever had a decent team to surround him. Peyton is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the odds are that eventually his little brother will get in.
So, the pedigree is there...
