The Cleveland Browns are in their second week of 2024 training camp at the Greenbrier in West Virginia. Reports from camp have been positive. Quarterback Deshaun Watson looks to be ahead of schedule on his rehab from shoulder surgery. Running back Nick Chubb started camp on the active PUP list, he was seen running drills and looking like his old self at camp. A lot of positive news is coming out from Browns training camp thus far. For Browns fans a good question is what a successful 2024 season would look like for the Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson?

In 2023 the Cleveland Browns had an 11-6 record and was the 5th AFC playoff seed as a wildcard team. They did this despite having 26% of their salary on injured reserve including franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson. Expectations for this team are high and they should be.

In 2024 the Cleveland Browns will be fielding the most expensive offense in the NFL at $188 million dollars. And according to Jack Duffin from the Orange and Brown report the Cleveland Browns are outspending the NFL by an estimated $50 million dollars with contract restructures on cash spent in 2024. The Browns owners are willing to do this to manage the salary cap.  The Cleveland Browns are spending as if they are championship contenders. Will it lead to a successful 2024 and how would that be measured?

The Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson can show success in 2024 by winning games. In 2023 when Watson started for the Browns, he had a 5-1 record including the Colts game. I think milestones will need to be reached. The Browns haven’t won a division title since 1989. Winning the AFC North Division would be a sign of success. That same year was their last AFC Championship Game appearance. The Cleveland Browns currently have the longest streak of not making to a conference championship game. An AFC Championship Game appearance would be another sign of a successful season. And for Deshaun Watson, he needs to stay healthy and lead this team to these milestones. The quarterback stats will take care of themselves. Because the only statistic that matters is wins and losses. They don’t give out rings for PFF scores. To quote the late Al Davis “just win baby”!