CLEVELAND BROWNS
2025 Record - 5-12-0
Head Coach - Todd Monken
2025 Offensive Rank - 262 YPG (30th); Rushing - 97 YPG (27th), Passing - 165 (31st) SCORING - 16.4 PPG (31st)
2025 Defensive Rank - 284 YPG (4th); Rushing - 117 YPG (16th), Passing - 167 (3rd) SCORING - 22.3 PPG (14th)
Key Player Additions - Spencer Fano (OL), Jared Verse (LB), Miles Bryant (DB), Zion Johnson (OL), Quincy Williams (LB), Kalia Davis (DL), Tytus Howard (OL), Elgton Jenkins (OL)
Key Player Losses - Myles Garrett (DL), David Njoku (TE), Jerome Baker (LB), Devin Bush (LB), Joel Bitonio (OL), Mohamoud Diabate (LB), Jerome Ford (RB), Shelby Harris (DL), Cam Robinson (OL), Wyatt Teller (OL), Ethan Pocic (OL), Rayshawn Jenkins (DB)
OFFENSE - The quarterback position looks to be in the hands of Deshaun Watson, who hasn't played much since signing with the Browns four years ago, due to Achilles injuries and shoulder injuries. Second year QB Shedeur Sanders had 1,400 passing yards in eight games last season with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions. He also rushed for 169 yards (8.0 YPC) and one touchdown. Dillon Gabriel (937 passing yards, seven TD, two INT in ten games) is another option at quarterback. The running backs are Quinshon Jenkins, who led the team with 827 rushing yards (3.6 YPC) and seven touchdowns last year, and Dylan Sampson (175, 2.7 YPC), Raheim Sanders and fullback Michael Burton. Jerry Jeudy (50 receptions, 602 yards, two TD) and tight end Harold Fannin, Jr. (72, 731, six TD) lead the receiving corps. Isaiah Bond (18, 338), Cedric Tillman and Tylan Wallace are others looking to contribute along with KC Concepcion, a highly touted rookie from Texas A&M.
DEFENSE - All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in the off-season and in return the Browns have Jared Verse, who had 7 1/2 quarterback sacks last season. Mason Graham, Maliek Collins (6 1/2 sacks) and Alex Wright (5 1/2 sacks) round out the defensive front.The linebackers are Carson Schwesinger (team leading 146 tackles, two interceptions), Quincy Williams (82 tackles with N.Y. Jets) and Winston Reid, who missed all of last year with back injuries. In the secondary are cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell. The safeties include Ronnie Hickman, Jr. (100 tackles, two INT), Grant Delpit and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Cleveland was fourth overall in total defense last season and they had 53 sacks, with (former DE) Garrett getting 23 of them to set a new NFL single season record.
2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - It's a new day in Cleveland as the Browns have Todd Monken as their new head coach and he brings a new approach on offense and would like to see the team get the running game going after averaging just 97 yards per game a year ago. Whether or not Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders is the answer at quarterback remains to be seen, but the Browns offense must improve overall after finishing 31st in the NFL in scoring with only 16.4 points per game last season.
The defense helped carry the team to five wins in 2025 and should be solid yet again even with Myles Garrett no longer leading the way on the line. The defensive backfield is among the best in the NFL, ranking third against the pass in 2025 and the team had eleven interceptions. Denzel Ward is a true shut down type of cornerback and the linebackers get after people. The Browns lost six games by one score a year ago, so they were in a lot of games and if the offense can score more on a regular basis in 2026, perhaps this team could surprise their opponents.
The AFC North has three good opponents the Browns need to overcome, but they were 2-4 in division play and two of the losses were one score games. The playoffs are a long shot, but in the topsy turvy nature of the modern day NFL, no one should be that surprised if this team can make a run in the AFC playoff picture this year. One thing for sure, the Browns will look more like a team on the rise for the first time in nearly four years.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Jacksonville
Week Two - at Tampa Bay
Week Three - vs. Carolina
Week Four - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Five - at N.Y. Jets
Week Six - vs. Baltimore
Week Seven - at Tennessee
Week Eight - at Pittsburgh
Week Nine - at New Orleans
Week Ten - vs. Houston
Week Eleven - BYE
Week Twelve - vs. Las Vegas
Week Thirteen - vs. Cincinnati
Week Fourteen - vs. Atlanta
Week Fifteen - at N.Y. Giants
Week Sixteen - at Baltimore
Week Seventeen - vs. Indianapolis
Week Eighteen - at Cincinnati
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