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Cleveland BrownsPFM Team Dashboard
PFM Archetype Defense Is the Building Block70.9PFM Team ScoreNFL Rank#30AFC Rank#15Among AFC teamsQB Stability#32Deshaun Watson · Question MarkSeason OutlookNeeds More HelpThere are pieces to like, but this roster still needs more help.PFM Team DNACleveland Browns Team DNA
Which traits define the Browns DNA and what could potentially swing their season.
Primary IdentityDefense Is the Best Unit
Cleveland's defense is a dependable part of the plan. A 83.1 grade gives the Browns a unit they can trust in close games.
Supporting TraitCore Talent
Cleveland has some pieces to build around, but a 76.1 Roster Strength grade shows where the depth starts to thin out.
Swing FactorNeed More Explosive Plays
Cleveland is not creating enough game-changing plays. The 63.5 Explosiveness grade makes that a real problem for the Browns.
PFM ReporterCleveland Browns: Roster Move Shapes the Current PFM Read
The Cleveland Browns depth chart is the part of this update worth watching. EDGE Alex and Wright Will is the player-specific part of the Cleveland Browns roster move. That kind of move shifts the Cleveland Browns roster math without forcing a brand-new team identity.
The Cleveland Browns' rating is only one part of the story, but it sharpens the read. With Deshaun Watson in place, the Cleveland Browns are No. 31 on the board with a 70.84 public PFM score after they slipped 1.00 points. The Cleveland Browns board is tilted toward the defense: 83.10 there, compared with 66.64 on the offense.
That is a workable formula for the Cleveland Browns, especially if Defense Strength keeps traveling. The next Cleveland Browns jump has to come from QB Stability. For the Cleveland Browns, that is the category telling us what to trust first. The Cleveland Browns rating is doing its job there: respect the strength, flag the weak spot.
PFM RatingsWhat the PFM Numbers Say
Cleveland is No. 30 in the latest PFM rankings with a score of 70.9. That lands the team in our Needs More Help tier. Inside the AFC North, the Browns are No. 4. The defense is ahead of the offense, 83.1 to 66.6. That side of the ball gives the Browns their best chance to win. That defense is the biggest reason for the Defense Is the Building Block archetype. Quarterback is still a major question with Deshaun Watson. Cleveland sits at 66.2, No. 32 in PFM in QB Stability.
There is a 19.6-point gap between the best and worst grades. This is still a very uneven team. The lowest grade is Explosiveness at 63.5, and that remains the clearest problem for the Browns.
Last updatedJune 16, 2026PFM Report Card
QB StabilityD+66.2Roster StrengthC+76.1Coaching DirectionC-68.8Recent PerformanceC-69.3Offense StrengthD+66.6Defense StrengthB+83.1Franchise DirectionC-69.2ExplosivenessD+63.5AFC North PFM Watch
PFM Data UpdateUpdatedHow PFM grades NFL teamsPFM ratings are updated regularly throughout the year.
