Browns vs Seahawks: Gap between Cleveland and Super Bowl champs

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Byron Murphy II #91 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with Riq Woolen #27 of the Seattle Seahawks and Brady Russell #38 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Something very few would have expected when the season started, the Seattle Seahawks are the Super Bowl champions after defeating the New England Patriots (another thing very few predicted) to close out the 2025 NFL season. Now, the 2026 NFL offseason gets started with the Cleveland Browns looking to right the ship under new head coach Todd Monken.

Similar to the Super Bowl matchup that almost no one predicted, few were surprised that the Browns 2025 season went poorly. Cleveland's offense struggled, and the defense couldn't carry the team. Interestingly, defense did win the championship for the Seahawks, whose process the Browns could try to replicate.

Cleveland's defense was really good in 2025 (8th overall in FTN's DVOA, -9.7), but fell significantly behind Seattle's (1st overall, -24.2%). With QB Sam Darnold resurrecting his career, along with OPOY Jaxson Smith-Njigba and RB Kenneth Walker, the Seahawks offense ranked 10th overall (8.5%) while the Browns were the worst in the NFL (-33.9%).

While Cleveland's defense should still be stellar, the offense needs help. TE Harold Fannin Jr. and RB Quinshon Judkins, if he recovers from his injuries well, are two foundational pieces, but the Browns likely need more to come anywhere near what Seattle has.

Which brings us to our questions of the day: How many pieces away from being able to compete with the Seahawks roster are the Browns?And at what specific positions?Do they need a specific position upgraded to take their defense from 8th to 1st, or just a better offense to help them out?

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