2022 Offseason Assessment Tournament: 2nd-Round (CLE v. CIN)

Same intro everyday: Our annual series taking a look at each NFL team’s offseason (free agency, draft, trades) moves and assessing their impact for the upcoming season – simply speaking, 'did all of the offseason moves, en masse, project to make the team better or worse for just the upcoming campaign (not worried about the long-term effect)'?

We’ll list the key adds and losses for each team competing and then comment on them and anoint a winner that will move on to the next round, until we get down to the final two (the 'Super Bowl') and we name a winner for the top offseason (to date). Our way to review and judge what each of these teams have done halfway through the offseason.

2nd-Round Matchup…

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Key Adds:

QB Deshaun Watson (trade), WR Amari Cooper (trade), LB Chase Winovich (trade)

WR Jakeem Grant (FA), QB Jacoby Brissett (FA), DT Taven Bryan (FA)

CB M.J. Emerson (pick #68), LB Alex Wright Pick #78), WR David Bell (#99), DL Perrion Winfrey (pick #108), PK Cade York (pick #124), RB Jerome Ford (pick #156)

Key Losses:

QB Baker Mayfield (eventually gone), CB Troy Hill (trade), QB Case Keenum (trade), LB Mack Wilson (trade)

TE Austin Hooper (FA), FB Andy Janovich (FA), WR Jarvis Landry (FA), CB M.J. Stewart (FA), OL J.C. Tretter

Vs.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Key Adds:  

OG Alex Cappa (FA), OT La’El Collins (FA), OC Ted Karras (FA), TE Hayden Hurst (FA)

DB Dax Hill (pick #31), Cam Taylor-Britt (Pick #60), DL Zach Carter (pick #95), OL Cordell Volson (pick #136)

Key Losses:

TE C.J. Uzomah (FA), DT Larry Ogunjobi (FA?)

Getting Deshaun and Amari is pretty attention-getting, impactful for 2022. However, Baker Mayfield is pretty good…so the jump up at QB may not be as big as the media thinks…or a jump at all. Still, the Browns brought in players that help 2022’s cause and they didn’t have a great draft but getting kicker Cade York is a real 2022 impact player for sure.

The Bengals were lacking at O-Line…and then went out and landed three OL starters…four if you count TE Hayden Hurst. The most critical need…and the Bengals executed a terrific plan to upgrade.

Both teams upgraded via trade/free agency but neither hit a homerun in the draft. Both teams had different needs for 2022, and they both chased/executed a solid overall offseason plan. I’m going to give the nod to Cincy for most 2022 impact because (I assume) if Deshaun gets suspended 4-8 games (or more) then the QB situation is killed this year and that will give them the worst 2022 offseason set of moves to impact 2022 operations.

WINNER = Cincinnati, who goes on to the AFC Final Four.

2nd-Round results:

MIA defeats NYJ

DEN defeats LAC

CIN defeats CLE