NFL fans rip CBS analyst to shreds for wild Cleveland Browns prediction

NFL fans have ripped CBS analyst Danny Kanell for his wild take on the Cleveland Browns, saying that they could be a 'nine-or-10-win team' after naming Joe Flacco as starting quarterback. 

Flacco was given the starting job on Monday, winning arguably the NFL's most-watched quarterback competition over Shedeur Sanders, Kenny Pickkett, Dillon Gabriel, and Tyler Huntley.  

'I think they could be a nine or a 10 win team. And I do like the makeup of this team,' Kanell said. 'I think the style of play, of what they want to do offensively, suits Joe Flacco well. I think it's one of the reasons that Shedeur excelled in the preseason because it's a more of a play action, pocket-passer type of system, which I think fits Flacco to a tee.'

'I know we've got to figure out Quinshon Judkins and some of the issues that are going on with him, but I really like Dylan Sampson, their pick that they took a little bit later to possibly step in and fill a void in the backfield for them. And then we got to think about what they did this off season too, with Myles Garrett, paying him.'

'Their defense, I think is going to be one of the things for them to hang their hat on. Mason Graham, one of the rookie, first-round picks that they brought in there is a great player potentially could wreak some havoc. So I think it is more of a traditional offensive style where you're taking some play-action shots down the field, trying to run the football and playing really good, aggressive defense.'

Most oddsmakers have the Browns' over/under win total for 2025 at 4.5 victories, with Kanell's prediction doubling that. Fans can't believe Kanell is so high on Cleveland.

'@dannykanell Can you show me the 10 wins on the schedule? Go through them one by one. I need a good laugh,' one NFL fan stated. 

'More like 4 or 5 wins,' a second person said. 

'Hiring dudes with no knowledge of the game,' a third person added of Kanell. 

'Clowns fans are so delusional but boy is it fun watching them crumble every year. You’ll be in last place like the last 12/20 years,' a fourth continued. 

'Are we multiplying wins now?' a fifth concluded.

The Browns finished last season with a 3-14 record and have not made a ton of flashy moves this offseason to lead on many fans that tripling their win total is on the horizon. 

Flacco is 40 and the team is committed to him as the starter, for now, with many looking past him and to try and figure out who the quarterback of the future for the team is. 

Many of those looking into 2026 and beyond want Sanders to get a legitimate shot at being the team's signal caller. 

Sanders fell to the fifth round of the NFL Draft despite being projected as a top pick in leadup to the event. The Browns also selected Gabriel in the third round in April.

The first six weeks of the regular season sees the Browns face the Bengals, Ravens, Packers, Lions, Vikings, and Steelers, with many projecting consecutive losses out of the gate.