Division: AFC North
2025 Record: 5-12

*Writers note- due to the amount of offseason turnover this team has seen- this is a longform read.

Front Office Changes

Before the Myles Garrett trade, the biggest story of the Browns offseason wasn’t the firing of Kevin Stefanski, which became largely expected after back to back disappointing seasons that left Cleveland stuck in the basement of the AFC North. It was the subsequent pursuit of their next head coach that ultimately led to the departure of beloved Defensive Coordinator, Jim Schwartz, and the first overhaul of all four top coaching positions since 2020, when Stefanski first arrived in Cleveland.

Front Office

In the front office, significant changes took place starting all the way back in November when Paul DePodesta (made famous by Jonah Hill from Moneyball) left his California remote-office as the Chief Strategy Officer of the Browns to return to baseball, heading the Rockies operations. With rumors that he heavily influenced the infamous trade for DeShaun Watson and much of the disappointing drafts before 2025, it’s safe to say he will not be missed in Berea.

Longtime NFL exec Ryan Grigson re-joins the Browns front office as a Senior Football Advisor, most known for his stint as the GM for the Indianapolis Colts and most recently the Assistant GM in Minnesota. He previously worked in Cleveland in 2017 as a personnel exec and 2020-2021 as an advisor to Barry.

Chris Cooper has been elevated to Senior Vice President of Football Administration, increasing his status from VP of the same department. This will be his 8th year in the role and 13th within the organization.

In the Scouting Department, Josh Meyer, who previously worked at the University of Michigan in personnel and recruiting, has been elevated to the West Coast Area scout after spending last season as a scouting assistant. Kathleen Wood has been officially promoted to Scouting Assessment and Development Advisor. She was also the first female scout in Browns history.

Coaching Staff

Todd Monken, most recently the Offensive Coordinator of the division rival Baltimore Ravens, gets his first opportunity to be an NFL Head Coach. Prior to his stint in the Crab Cake Capital, his coaching journey featured 12 different stops between college football and the pros, including spending the 2019 season as the offensive coordinator here in Cleveland. Monken is known to be full of character and very blunt to the team and media. Their new Head Coach is also expected to be the offensive playcaller in year one, and is seen as a creative mind that forms his offense based on the talent of his personnel instead of marrying to a particular scheme. He beat out Nate Scheelcaase, the Rams Offensive Coordinator, and Jim Schwartz, the Browns former Defensive Coordinator, for the job, leading to Schwartz’s departure.

The coaching staff grows from 23 in 2025 to 29 in 2026.

Hiring Grade: B+

The Browns set out to find the coach that will finally pull their offense out of the pit of doom and despair, and may have found him in Monken. Looking for an offensive coach steered them away from top tier hires like John Harbaugh. Other highly regarded options like Sean McDermott and Mike Tomlin choosing to take a year to regroup made the top of this hiring cycle thin after Klint Kubiak chose to roll the dice in Vegas. Monken was the remaining coach that had been a part of a successful organization, had prior head coaching experience (in college at least), would be the de-facto playcaller, and the experience to identify his starting QB.

I would’ve graded this hire an A- had Schwartz not left town over the decision. Failing to retain the lone bright spot of the top of last year's coaching hierarchy (through no fault of Monken) drops this down slightly.

Offensive Staff

Monken’s offensive staff overhaul has been infused with coaches he worked alongside in numerous stops.

Lots of offensive hires worked alongside him with the Ravens. Offensive Coordinator Travis Switzer and Offensive Line coach George Warhop were poached from Baltimore to replace Tommy Rees and Mike Bloomgren. Switzer was previously Monken’s run-game coordinator and spent the last 9 seasons in Baltimore. Warhop coached in Cleveland in ‘09-’13, and is entering his 30th NFL season.

Danny Breyer also migrated from the Ravens as the new pass game coordinator, and spent the last three years as an offensive assistant. Jeff Blasko will take on the duties of run game coordinator and Tight Ends coach, a mix of the roles he had previously with the Jets and Cowboys.

The only retained offensive coaches are Duce Staley (Running Backs), Sanders Davis (Offensive Assistant/Asst. OL), Dom Borsani (Offensive Analyst) and Christian Jones (Wide Receivers). Jones served as the Tight Ends coach last year, and is now replacing Chad O’Shea.

Mike Bajakian and Matt Baker (Assistant) are in charge of coaching the QB room this year. Bajakian coached alongside Monken during his time in Tampa Bay from 2016-18. Baker was previously an Offensive Assistant in Pittsburgh.

Bobby Johnson joins the staff as an offensive line assistant to Warhop. He spent the last two seasons as Washington’s offensive line coach.

Ian Kolste also joins Monkens staff after spending the last two seasons under Todd Monken in Baltimore. Travis Monken, Todd’s son, also joins the staff as an offensive analyst. He spent the prior two seasons at Purdue.

Defensive Staff

Despite the departure of Jim Schwartz, almost the entire defensive staff was retained by new Defensive Coordinator Mike Rutenberg, with many coaches receiving additional responsibilities and promotions. 

Linebackers coach Jason Tarver now takes on the additional role of run game coordinator. Zach Dunn supports him as Asst. Linebackers coach, and has been a defensive assistant since 2020.

Ephraim Banda, the Browns Safeties coach since 2023, has been elevated to pass game coordinator.

Ralph Street joined the Browns as Asst. Defensive line coach under Jacques Cesaire after spending 5 seasons at Marshall University, where he coached Ravens DE Mike Green.

Brandon Lynch takes over as as Defensive Backs Coach and Pass Game Specialist. He has been with the Browns since 2020 and Cornerbacks coach since 2023.

Jeff Anderson has been promoted to Nickelbacks Coach and Defensive Assistant for the 2026 season, the first time the Browns have had a coach dedicated to the Nickel position. He first joined the Browns in 2022.

Dom Capers has been appointed Senior Defensive Assistant, marking Cleveland as his 12th team in a 39 year career in the NFL. He has also spent 11 seasons in the collegiate coaching ranks.

Paul Worrilow joins as a Defensive Quality Control Coach after an 8 year NFL career from 2013-2020. Since then, he’s been a volunteer assistant at the University of Delaware.

Previous Jets Defensive Assistant Shaq Wilson joins the staff as a Defensive Analyst.

Special Teams

Byron Stoyer and Keith Tandy (Asst) take command of the Special Teams unit. Stoyer served as the Packers assistant special teams coach from 2022, and Tandy comes from Tampa Bay, where he joined under the same title from 2020-2025.

Free Agency

Departures

Player |Position |New Team
DeAndre Carter |WR |n/a
David Njoku |TE |LAC
Jerome Ford |RB |WAS
Trayveon Williams |RB |n/a
Joel Bitonio |OG |Retirement :(
Wyatt Teller |OG |HOU
Cam Robinson |OT |n/a
Jack Conklin |OT |n/a
Cornelius Lucas |OT |n/a
Ethan Pocic |C |n/a
Myles Garrett |DE |LAR
Cameron Thomas |DE |ATL
Shelby Harris |DT |NYG
Devin Bush |LB |CHI
Jerome Baker |LB |n/a
Mohamoud Diabate |LB |TEN
Martin Emerson |CB |NO
Rayshawn Jenkins |S |n/a Major losses: Myles Garrett, David Njoku, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Devin Bush, Shelby Harris.

Time for the one everyone is here for: the Myles Garrett trade. I won’t get into the debate of the timing of the trade or whether Cleveland received enough in compensation for the NFL’s sack king, but I am overall satisfied with the return of Jared Verse, along with a ‘27 1st, ‘28 2nd, and ‘29 conditional 3rd round pick. Garrett leaves Cleveland as their greatest defensive player ever, maintaining one of the greatest peaks we have seen in the history of the league. Losing him will leave a gaping hole in their defensive production without a proven solution. Shelby Harris and Devin Bush moving on to new teams will only add to that void, as Harris wrecked havoc on the interior totaling 19 pressures and freeing up many opportunities for Myles Garrett. Bush experienced a career renaissance in Cleveland after the former first round pick flamed out in Pittsburgh.

Offensively, the loss of team captain Joel Bitonio and fellow Guard Wyatt Teller will be felt as the Browns try to rebuild their entire offensive line. Bitonio played in 178 games, the most of any Browns player in the expansion era (since 1999). While Teller struggled with a lingering calf issue in the 2025 season and led to him losing snaps to G Tevin Jenkins, he has been a dominant run blocker for the majority of his career.
David Njoku has been a heartbeat of the offense and the team as a whole, becoming a leader who embraced the city of Cleveland after overcoming adversity he faced early in his career and rescinding his trade request in 2020. On the field, availability has become more and more of a shadow over his performance. In 2025, he dealt with a hyper-extended knee in week 6 that lingered throughout the year, and suffered a suspected PCL sprain against the Titans later in the year. This, along with the ascension of rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr., contributed to one of the worst campaigns of his career. He will be remembered fondly, but his production never met his potential outside of the 2023 season.

Signings

Player |Position |Old Team |Length |Salary
Tylan Wallace |WR |BAL |1 |$1.4M / $125k GTD
Jack Stoll |TE |NO |1 |$1.3M
Blake Whiteheart |TE |Re-Signed |1 |$1.1M
Michael Burton |FB |DEN |1 |$1.4M / $60k GTD
Elgton Jenkins |C |GB |2 |$24M / $15M GTD
Zion Johnson |G |LAC |3 |$49.5M / $32.4M GTD
Teven Jenkins |G |Re-Signed |1 |$4M / $3.9M GTD
Tytus Howard |T |HOU (Traded) |4 |$63M / $34.5M GTD
Sam Kamara |DT |Re-Sign |1 |$1.2M
Kalia Davis |DT |SF |1 |$1.2M
Jared Verse |DE |LAR (Traded) |2 |$5.029M / Fully GTD
Markees Watts |DE |TB |1 |$1.1M
Julian Okwara |DE |Re-Sign |1 |$1.2M
Quincy Williams |LB |NYJ |2 |$13M / $9M GTD
Myles Bryant |CB |HOU |1 |$1.4M / $517.5k GTD
D’Angelo Ross |CB |Re-Sign |1 |$1.25M
Daniel Thomas |S |DET |2 |$3M / $1.085M GTD
Tre Avery |S/CB |Re-Sign |1 |$1.2M
Corey Bojorquez |P |Re-Sign |1 |$2M / $987.5k GTD

Major Acquisitions: Jared Verse, Zion Johnson, Tytus Howard, Elgton Jenkins, Quincy Williams.

The majority of the Browns focus this off-season has centered around re-building the offensive line to give their un-named starting QB a chance this year.
The deals came quickly, as Cleveland locked up G Zion Johnson in a 3 year deal. Johnson was a durable run-blocker, but struggled mightily in pass protection. It should be noted he is expected to start at LG, which he played as a rookie, but played at RG every other year with the Chargers. His contract reflects the hope that he can be a mid-level starter and hopefully improve against the pass.
The Browns also made a swap with the Texans, sending a 5th round pick over for T Tytus Howard. They also gave Howard a 3yr/$63M extension. He brings versatility, playing RT and both Guard spots through his NFL career, and didn’t give up a single sack this past season while playing over 1,000 snaps. His extension pays him daily relative to his performance, as his extension puts him in the upper-middle of starting RTs in terms of salary. I liken this to the extension given to Jerry Jeudy when he was traded from Denver. The opposite of Johnson, Tytus Howard has excelled in pass pro, but is far from an elite run blocker. This move also signals that the Dawand Jones experiment is on life support, which we will get into later.

Elgton Jenkins moves over from Green Bay and brings versatility to the offensive line as well. The 2019 second round pick has had significant injuries, suffering a torn ACL in 2021 and a fibula fracture along with an ankle injury last season. When healthy, he has provided pro-bowl level performance. This signing seems to aim to ensure the Browns a starting level option at Center without gambling on Luke Wypler (and now Parker Brailsford as well) for the entirety of the season. He also gives them valuable depth at the Guard spots, which became a weak point of the offense last season.

Jared Verse spearheads the Browns pass-rush and comes over as the “centerpiece” of the haul received for Myles Garrett. The 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year is seen as a player with a relentless motor, and led the NFL with 89 pressures last year including the playoffs while also leading the Rams defensive line in tackles. PPF rated him as the 11th best Edge player in 2025, and he added 7.5 sacks to his 4.5 total from his rookie season.
While most of his value is tied to the years of control remaining on his rookie deal (3 if you include his 5th year option), his prowess off the edge enabled fellow pass rushers Kobe Turner and Byron Young to feast. Despite some of his value being based on projections, if V8 can set the edge while continuing to improve and convert more of those pressures into sacks, he may also lift all boats and open things up for Wright, Collins, and Mason Graham. There’s also hope he can become a vocal leader for the front 7 and defense as a whole.

Quincy Williams reinforces the Linebacker group, which became quickly depleted after the departure of Diabate, Jerome Baker and standout Devin Bush via free agency. Williams played under new Defensive Coordinator Mike Rutenberg during his stops with the Jaguars and Jets. I see him as a hand-picked replacement for Devin Bush, fitting into the off-ball position he voided. Despite his struggles in Aaron Glenn’s defense last year, he’s reached All-Pro status under Rutenberg. I expect Mike and Jason Tarver to unlock Williams and maintain the front 7 as the most impressive part of this roster.

Draft Class

Round |Number |Player |Position |School
1 |9 |Spencer Fano |LT |Utah
1 |24 |Kevin (KC) Concepcion |WR |Texas A&M
2 |39 |Denzel Boston |WR |Washington
2 |58 |Emmanuel McNeil-Warren |S |Toledo
3 |86 |Austin Barber |RT |Florida
5 |146 |Parker Brailsford |C |Alabama
5 |149 |Justin Jefferson |LB |Alabama
6 |182 |Taylen Green |QB |Arkansas
7 |248 |Carsen Ryan |TE |BYU

Trades were the talk of the Browns draft, as they moved around the board 6 times over the first 6 rounds of the weekend, on top of entering the draft with 9 total selections including Jacksonville’s first round pick (24), which they netted from a draft day trade last year.

It didn’t take long for the Browns to fire up the trade hotline, as they flipped positions with the Chiefs (9), while scooping up additional 3rd round (74) and 5th round (148) picks. This led to them taking Tackle Spencer Fano, a swiss-army knife out of Utah.
Fano has played all 5 offensive line positions during college, but Andrew Barry immediately stated Fano will play at Left Tackle. He allowed 0 sacks and QB hits in his time at Utah (per PFF). While he profiles as an athletic tackle more than a traditional “anchor” LT, he is built for a Zone scheme and can more than hold his own against the run. That lack of size and elite strength is the biggest question mark for him, as he may struggle against larger-framed edge rushers and may struggle more in pass pro than he did in the Big 12. Being marked with an “orange dot” during Cleveland's pre-draft process, the Browns feel he not only possesses All-Pro ability, but can also be a locker room leader.

After addressing arguably the biggest hole on their roster, the Browns double dipped at Receiver to address their other major weakness on offense. 
KC Concepcion, while not seen as one of the “big 3” receivers in the draft (Tate, Tyson, Lemon), is one of the most versatile players in this draft class on the offensive side of the ball. He’ll become the Zay Flowers of this offense, filling the Z spot. He’s far from a one-dimensional speedster, as he excelled against the press, and had great success rates against man and zone coverage in college. He’s a very complete receiver, and able to win in almost every kind of route. He’s also an effective returner for the special teams unit, and may prove to be a threat every time he touches the ball.
His new running mate is Washington big man Denzel Boston. Listed at 6’4” 209lbs., he brings the feel of a true X the Browns haven’t had since Josh Gordon. Despite lacking high-end speed, he is still an excellent separator and gets downfield with ease. He plays true to his frame, and has very strong hands that made him excellent in contested catch scenarios (77% success rate). He struggles a bit more in man to man coverage than zone, and can be a bit slow out of his cuts in routes. He does display good IQ, working back to the ball and settling in soft spots in zone coverages. Boston and Concepcion are also willing run blockers, but both tend to lunge toward defenders, putting them at a disadvantage.
Take it for what it’s worth, Steve Smith Sr. loves both of these guys, and so do I. He projected them both as first round talents.

Cleveland wasn’t finished in the 2nd round, as they swapped picks 70 and 107 to San Francisco for pick 152 and 58, which they used on dynamic Toledo Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. EMW projects as a lengthy, hard-hitting big nickel or split safety with great instincts. He’s very fluid and rangy, with fast eyes and an elite frame. He’s aggressive in contact, with 8 forced fumbles in college. While he does well in coverage facing the QB and covering a zone, he may struggle in man coverage against quicker slot receivers. His technique also needs a bit of work, especially working out of a backpedal. He can also be looked-off by QBs, relying a bit too much on instincts instead of reading the play and route combinations itself. If those can be improved, McNeil-Warren taking over the Star role and playing in three safety sets could take this defense to the next level. This selection reminds me of the move the Browns made for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah when they traded up for him in the 2021 draft.

In round 3, the Browns traded their 74th pick to the Giants for picks 105, 145, and a ‘27 4th. Cleveland then called the Chargers for pick 86, flipping 105 and 145 along with 206. With that pick, they selected Tackle Austin Barber. The SEC product was another RAS darling, with a 9.81 score. Much of that athleticism and 6’7” frame is on display when run blocking, and he will excel in a zone blocking scheme. With his struggles against athletic edge rushers (see his tape against Ruben Bain in the Miami game), I see him initially filling the role of swing tackle and being used in short yardage/goal line sets.

Entering the final day of the draft, the Browns drafted the first of two Alabama products they’d be leaving Pittsburgh with in C Parker Brailsford. An undersized prospect at 6’2” and under 300lbs, he reminds me a lot of Tyler Linderbaum (not a surprising choice when Monken coached him as well). He will do well as a run blocker, but will need to add mass and improve at setting his anchor in order to be an effective full time starter, especially when going up against lengthy DTs.
After this pick, the Browns traded the Chiefs 5th round pick (148) to Seattle for a ‘27 4th round pick.

Just a couple of picks later, they selected their 2nd Alabama player in LB Justin Jefferson, using the Bengals pick (149) that they received for QB Joe Flacco. Physically, the JUCO product is a picture perfect WILL linebacker and will provide immediate depth and special teams support to a depleted room. He doesn't over-pursue ballcarriers, but struggles to get off blocks, especially against larger linemen. His coverage in zone situations needs work as well, as he relies on his physical traits a bit too much at times.
The Browns closed out the 5th round by making their final trade, moving back from 152 to 170, scooping up pick 182 along the way.
Denver’s pick (170) was used on Cincinnati TE Joe Royer. This selection opens up the potential for 12 personnel in passing situations, as Royer is an effective pass catcher, with strong hands and good movement in shorter routes. He’s a willing run blocker as well, but is far from an effective one. He will need to improve in that area to see the field in jumbo packages.

The next pick they acquired from the Broncos was used on athletic marvel Taylen Green. The 23 year old posted eye-widening numbers at the Combine and had an almost perfect RAS, making many wonder if he would end up being moved to another position at the next level. When you turn on the tape, you realize he stands tall in the pocket, and has a good feel and awareness compared to most mobile prospects. He impressed during the Senior Bowl, as he quickly improved over the week and experienced a pro-style offense. His accuracy, footwork, and processing speed will need to improve in order for him to have a real chance at starting. I wouldn’t expect to see him take meaningful snaps after the pre-season, but in Cleveland, almost anything is possible.

The Browns final selection (248) came from Seattle, which they acquired all the way back in 2024 when they traded Center Nick Harris. With the pick, Cleveland double-dipped at TE by taking Carsen Ryan from BYU. He projects as a “do-it-all” hybrid, as he can be an effective fullback, short-area/redzone target, and inline blocking TE. He reminds me of 49ers Kyle Juszczyk. Expect to see him shine in the pre-season, and carve out a role as the teams H back.

The Off-Season

Despite major trades and a new coaching staff taking the reins, this has been a fairly quiet offseason for Cleveland. There are no players actively facing a suspension, and no holdouts taking place. A few players have been dealing with lingering injuries, particularly T Dawand Jones, DT Mike Hall, and S Grant Delpit. Sadly, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has already been ruled out for the season, and it remains to be seen if he will ever play another snap. 
The biggest story is that of the battle for QB1, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders working to take the field in week 1. This competition may not be resolved until well into the pre-season, as HC Todd Monken has been staying non-committal on choosing his QB until he’s seen them in live action. In the meantime, he has praised them both individually and shared to the media that he sees them both as starting caliber players.

Projected Starters

OFFENSE
QB: Shedeur Sanders
*This could easily be Watson, but I’m betting on Sanders' connection to his playmakers and ability to extend plays shining through in joint practices and the pre-season.
RB: Quinshon Judkins
*From everything we’ve seen from OTAs, Judkins looks explosive and ready to go this year. He’ll be an X-Factor for this offense, but it will be up to the O-line to unlock him.
FB: Michael Burton
TE: Harold Fannin Jr.
TE: Jack Stoll
WR: KC Concepcion
WR: Denzel Boston
WR: Jerry Jeudy
WR: Isaiah Bond
LT: Spencer Fano
LG: Zion Johnson
C: Elgton Jenkins
*Look out for Parker Brailsford to challenge Jenkins for this spot. Monken himself stated a desire to play Elgton at Guard, and if he does, I’d expect him to kick out to RG.
RG: Teven Jenkins
RT: Tytus Howard

DEFENSE
DE: Jared Verse
DE: Alex Wright
DT: Mason Graham
DT: Maliek Collins
*I expect there to be a battle for this spot between Collins and Mike Hall.
LB: Carson Schwesinger
LB: Quincy Williams
LB: Winston Reid
*Reid fills JOK’s spot (IR), but I don’t expect for the Browns to deploy many 3 LB sets. I would anticipate more 3 Safety sets, with EMW being used as a big Nickel.
CB: Denzel Ward
CB: Tyson Campbell
CB: Myles Harden
*Harden slots in as the starting Nickel, but will be put to the test in camp.
SS: Grant Delpit
FS: Ronnie Hickman

SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Andre Szmyt
P: Corey Bojorquez
KR: Malachi Corley
PR: Gage Larvadain

Position Group Strengths and Weaknesses

QB
Strength: Mobility. This is one of the more athletic QB rooms in the league, with all 4 QB possessing the ability to extend plays.
Weakness: Processing. All of the QBs in this room have taken bad sacks and need to improve in their decision making and processing speed.

Backfield
Strength: Explosive playmaking. Judkins and Sampson could be a great 1-2 punch, and both are capable of turning almost any touch into a chunk play.
Weakness: Durability. The Browns top 2 backs both missed time last year. Hopefully the Browns won’t need to turn to their 3rd or 4th ball carrier as often this season.

OL
Strength: Size. This offseason, Andrew Barry made it a point to get people-movers, and he did just that. This projected starting unit would be one of the largest in the league, with an average height of 6”5 and almost 1,600lbs combined.
Weakness: Chemistry. With this entire unit being replaced, I’d expect a bit of a rough start while these guys gel. Look out for miscommunications and possible struggles early in the year.

Pass catchers
Strength: Man beaters. On paper, it feels like Cover 0 won’t be an option against this offense. Concepcion, Boston, Jeudy, and Fannin all excel against man coverage. As much as teams will be tempted to pressure Sanders or Watson, one of these guys will be open to potentially make them pay.
Weakness: Catching. The Browns finished last season with the worst drop rate in the league, and with first round pick KC Concepcion also having an issue in that category, those woes may continue.

DL
Strength: Pressure. Despite the loss of Myles Garrett, this unit will continue to get after the quarterback. While they may not match the sack totals they’ve put up as a unit in years past, QBs will not have the luxury to relax this season.
Weakness: Creating negative plays. Despite the pressure this unit puts on QBs, it remains to be seen if they will be able to capitalize on it with sacks, turnovers, and TFLs.

LB
Strength: Instinctual playmaking. This group is full of athletes with good range. Schwesinger and Williams both have a strong nose for the football, and depth guys Bookie Watson and Justin Jefferson can create TFLs and shine in limited roles. 
Weakness: Depth. This linebacker room is an injury or two away from being one of the worst rooms in the league. Losing Schwesinger or Williams would prove very costly unless Tarver can pull the most out of their rotational pieces.

Secondary
Strength: Physicality. This DB room is among the most physical in the league, with each player constantly terrorizing pass catchers. Ward, Campbell, Hickman and Delpit all hold their own in 1 on 1 situations against larger opponents.
Weakness: The Nickel. Last season, Myles Harden was the focal point of opposing offenses, allowing a passer rating of 120. With the Browns not addressing this spot in a major way (unless they shift EMW or another player here), the Nickel spot will be tested by talented slot receivers week after week.

Special Teams
Strength: Andre Szmyt. After a disastrous Browns debut against the Bengals last season, Szmyt showed tremendous ability and consistency. He went the rest of the season without missing an extra point, and only missed two more field goals. If he remains steady, he can potentially keep the Browns in games as the year progresses.
Weakness: The return game. Last season, the return unit produced no scores and hovered around the bottom of the league in return average. Hopefully this can improve under Stoyer.

Schedule Predictions

Week 1 @ Jaguars - L
Week 2 @ Buccaneers - L
The Browns kick off the season with a two week stand in Florida. While I’d like to see them pull one of these two games out, I can’t count on it as miscommunication and lack of chemistry will likely cost them during valuable downs.

Week 3 vs Panthers - Win
Week 4 vs Steelers - Win
Cleveland returns home and defends the Dawg Pound, getting back to back wins and returning to .500. I expect both of these games to be a little too close for comfort, but I think the Browns physicality in the trenches gets it done. This Panthers game feels like it has the potential to start slow, but turn into a shootout late in the game with both teams trading shots downfield. On Thursday Night Football, the Browns stand tall against Pittsburgh, powered by a strong performance on the ground by Quinshon Judkins.

Week 5 @ Jets - Win
Week 6 vs Ravens - L
The Browns split the following two games, beating the Jets in a game that shows they are out of the NFLs basement, but not too far. The next week, Monken faces his former team but fails to get a win against new HC Jesse Minter. As a fan, I think this will be one of the most unpredictable games of the season, and we could absolutely see the Browns pull off an unlikely win.

Week 7 @ Titans - Win
Week 8 @ Steelers - L
The defense powers the Browns to a win in week 7 against Tennessee. Despite the addition of Carnell Tate, I think the Titans offense will sputter at times. Week 8 brings another divisional game and another loss. The Steelers always seem to start the year strong, and the annual game in Pittsburgh is one of the most hostile environments the Browns play in. Expect for this one to be a physical battle.

Week 9 @ Saints - L 
Week 10 vs Texans - L
After a promising start to the year, some tough games send Cleveland into the bye on a three game skid. New Orleans is a sneaky team, and their offense becomes more dynamic with the additions of Jordyn Tyson and Travis Etienne Jr. Depending on QB play, this scenario could force Monken’s hand to evaluate if his QB1 should maintain that status after the bye.

BYE WEEK 
At least we can’t lose the bye right? Right?

Week 12 vs Raiders - Win
Week 13 vs Bengals - Loss
The Browns exit the bye rested and ready for a three game home stretch. This would be a get-right game, and with the defense making rookie QB Fernando Mendoza uncomfortable all game. Save this for your cold takes folder- this will be Jerry Jeudy’s game of the year. The Browns follow that game up with a loss to Joe Burrow and the Bengals. I think Cincinnati rolls into this game on a two-game winning streak (WAS, NOLA), and their offense continues on a hot streak that powers them towards the playoffs.

Week 14 vs Falcons - Win
Week 15 @ Giants - Loss
After a disappointing loss to the rival Bengals, the Browns face their former HC Kevin Stefanski and his new team, the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the high end weaponry, Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts, their inability to stretch the field with either Tua or Michael Penix will be the achilles heel of this team. The Giants will come into week 15 fresh off of a matchup against the defending champion Seahawks. At this point in the year, Malik Nabers will be back to 100% and any early-season learning curve under new HC John Harbaugh will have passed. I could see this being a frustrating game for Cleveland, with a couple of explosive plays determining the outcome of this matchup.

Week 16 @ Ravens - Loss
Week 17 vs Colts - Loss
Cleveland heads to the end of the season with another three game skid. The Ravens complete their season sweep against the Browns. This could be against a different QB than they faced in week 6, but the issues they faced in that loss may persist. Any defensive injuries at this point in the year may also make it tough to stop Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson from cutting up this defense. That trend may continue against Jonathan Taylor and the Colts the next week. Sauce Gardner vs Denzel Boston will be entertaining, but I think a late interception proves to be costly in this game.

Week 18 @ Bengals - Win
The Browns finish the season on a high note, playing spoiler to the Bengals and ensuring the Ravens take the AFC North crown. This game will be full of suspense, and likely come down to the last snaps. I think this will be very similar to the Browns-Steelers struggle in week 17 last season.

Record Prediction: 7-10
I have the Browns improving on last year's record. Cleveland can flirt with double digit wins if they can flip a few of these close games or start the year strong, but with all of the changes on the roster and coaching turnover, along with potential QB struggles, 10+ wins feels closer to a wish than a prediction. By the end of the season, we will absolutely know if our QB is on the roster, or if Cleveland will pursue the QB prospects in the highly touted 2027 draft class. I also want to temper the expectations for this defensive unit. While this front seven has its teeth, losing two of your best performers and their heralded defensive coordinator- may lead to them losing a bit of its bite.

Biggest Position Battles

Offense

QB: Shedeur Sanders vs Deshaun Watson
I think Watson is being used as a bar or litmus test for Shedeur. If Sanders cannot do more than the injury plagued Watson, who has been a shadow of the player he was in Houston, then I have a hard time thinking Todd Monken will entrust him to lead this young core into the future.
*I think that if the competition is equal, I see the staff rolling with the younger option in Sanders.

TE2: Jack Stoll vs Joe Royer vs Blake Whiteheart
The Browns TE room will be an interesting one to watch, with 4 players behind Harold Fannin Jr., and each one excelling in different areas. The TE2 spot is a valuable one in this offense, as Monken has never been afraid of utilizing 12 and 22 personnel.
With Whiteheart getting less money from the Browns than Jack Stoll, he may be the odd man out if he doesn’t stand out in the pre-season.

WR4: Isaiah Bond vs Cedric Tillman vs Malachi Corely vs Tylan Wallace
Cleveland has decided to revamp the receiver room by crowding the room and letting them battle. With Concepcion, Boston, and Jeudy the defacto starters in 11 personnel, the rest of the room is very open. I think the WR4 will depend on who is named starter, but so far Bond appears to be separating himself from the pack in OTAs.

Defense

DT2: Maliek Collins vs Mike Hall Jr.
I touched on this battle earlier in the article. Hall has dealt with adversity in every year of his career. At only 23, he’s still younger than some rookies entering this year. Collins was a very effective pass rusher last season, reaching 6.5 sacks on the interior, but entering the final season of his deal and age 31 season, this staff has to be hoping Hall ascends.

LB3: Winston Reid vs Justin Jefferson vs Bookie Watson
This battle will be for the 3rd spot on the field when the Browns run true 4-3 and heavier sets. I don’t see Jefferson beating out Reid just yet unless he shows massive growth during the preseason, but I expect Rutenberg to rotate guys into this spot for the first few weeks of the season, unless someone in this group separates.

Slot Corner: Myles Harden vs Myles Bryant vs Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
With the struggles Myles Harden had last year, Myles Bryant was brought in from Houston to immediately challenge him for slot coverage duties. If both fail early or appear to be weak links in the secondary, the Browns may use this spot as a way to get EMW on the field early and capitalize on his impressive physical traits and help him improve in man coverage, while keeping him close to the line of scrimmage to play the run. While Harden has the advantage for now, watch out for Bryant. As the season continues, I’d expect to see EMW in the Nickel/slot spot against TEs/big slots and in situations calling for zone coverage.