John Harbaugh: Browns Have Most Talent in AFC North Post-Odell Beckham Jr. Trade

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday the Cleveland Browns' trade for superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. gave them the most talented roster in the AFC North. 

Harbaugh told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com it's clear the Browns have the most firepower on paper but explained that doesn't make them a lock to win the division in 2019.

"They're the most talented team in the division," he said. "There's no question about that right now. And we'll see what that means, you know? I know this. That's right now. The best team in the division is the team that's going to win the division. So we'll see what the best team is."

The oddsmakers agree with Harbaugh's assessment.

Cleveland is listed as the slight favorite (7-5) to win the AFC North over the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) and Ravens (3-1) in one of the NFL's most hotly contested divisions, per Vegas Insider. The Cincinnati Bengals (18-1) are a distant fourth in the latest lines.

Beckham's arrival certainly gave the Browns, who posted a 7-8-1 record in 2018, one of the most promising offensive playmaker groups in the league.

He joins quarterback Baker Mayfield, running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt (after an eight-game suspension), fellow receivers Jarvis Landry and Antonio Callaway as well as tight end David Njoku.

Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens said Tuesday the team welcomes the newfound expectations:

"I've never seen one team make the Super Bowl without having those expectations. I don't mind expectations. I want them. I guarantee the New England Patriots, their expectation next year is to play in the Super Bowl. Now, we're not in the predicting business but we're going to take an everyday approach to do our jobs and then we will see where we are a week from now, then a month, then a year. In January we'll see if we're good enough. We might not play good enough, or we might not have coached good enough, but that's always gonna be our goal."

Cleveland last captured a division title in 1989 when it was in the AFC Central.

If Mayfield, Beckham and Co. can end that drought, they would guarantee the Browns their first playoff appearance since 2002.