NFL expert Daniel Jeremiah dips his toe into several different areas of the NFL product. He is the gameday color commentator for the Los Angeles Chargers on gameday, he hosts the Move the Sticks Podcast, and he is one of the lead analysts for NFL Draft coverage.
If there is anyone who knows the NFL and knows ball, it is Jeremiah.
On Tuesday, he made a major claim about what a Super Bowl contender needs on their roster. He says that every team needs one quarterback, three playmakers, three offensive linemen, two pass rushers, and three defensive playmakers.
It seems pretty self-explanatory, but when you spend time thinking about it, acquiring all of that talent and all of those players is so challenging, and only a few teams have it. Thinking back on the last three Super Bowl champions, this formula checks out.
The 2025 Seattle Seahawks had everything they needed. Sam Darnold stepped up yet again as an elite quarterback. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker, and Cooper Kupp make up the offensive weapons. Upfront, the Seahawks were five for five with great talent. On defense, they had three guys with seven sacks, and they were littered with skill positions on defense.
Rookie Nick Emmanwori showed that he is a future star in the league, while Drake Thomas and Ernest Jones IV patrolled the second level of the defense. On the edge, Devon Witherspoon and Coby Bryant led the way.
The Seahawks were the perfect combination of each of those factors. Thinking back to the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles and the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs, the math checks out with each of them as well.
It would be impossible to say that Smith’s idea of the necessary roster is a perfect science, but it sure makes sense. It then begs the question, how close is Cleveland?
First things first, they have to solve the quarterback position as soon as possible. That is the gateway to the rest of the answers. Then, on offense, you hope that the young skill players that you have acquired in Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston can all turn into stars.
Upfront, Cleveland hopes that Spencer Fano and Parker Brailsford can develop into stars, and at least one of their free agent additions can turn into something. On defense, Cleveland is set for two or three more years. They have two pass rushers, they have playmakers all over the field, both young and old, and playmakers at all levels.
Cleveland isn’t as far off as people want it to be. Solve a couple of the major questions, and the Browns will be a winner again very soon.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: How close are the Browns to being a legitimate Super Bowl contender?
Reporting by Anthony Moeglin, Browns Wire / Browns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
