The Facts: From winning the Super Bowl to building a dynasty, the NFL offseason is typically a time for bold predictions. And Beckham, whom the Cleveland Browns acquired in a blockbuster trade with the New York Giants, covered all the bases Monday night at the Met Gala. "I plan on being there for the next five years and trying to bring as many championships there as possible," Beckham told Cam Wolf of GQ, "turning [the Browns] into the new Patriots."
Diehards Line:Beckham's enthusiasm is arguably well-placed given the incredible makeover in Cleveland over the past year. The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is but a part of what John Dorsey has built since taking over as general manager on Dec. 7, 2017, and the Browns have gone from league laughingstock to a potential contender. That said, in the time since Beckham entered the league in 2014 with the Giants, his new team has finished last in the AFC North four of the past five seasons en route to an 18-61-1 record, which includes the 0-16 mark in 2017. Over the same span, the Patriots won the AFC East five straight seasons and advanced to four Super Bowls, winning two, while amassing a 62-18 record. Still, the Browns have plenty of reasons to eye a turnaround given a talent-filled foundation consisting of Beckham, quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, running back Nick Chubb, defensive end Myles Garrett, cornerback Denzel Ward and outside linebacker Olivier Vernon, among others. But it is one thing to have high expectations and quite another meeting them.