The Browns are heading into training camp with a few familiar questions and a roster that already looks different in some important spots.
One of the biggest names to watch is veteran defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who is working his way back from a Week 13 knee injury that cut short his 2025 season. Cleveland is counting on him as part of the plan to help stabilize the defensive front after the loss of Myles Garrett, with DC Mike Rutenberg expected to lean on Jared Verse and the interior line to help fill that void.
That defensive overhaul is the clearest sign of how much this group has changed. Garrett is gone, and the Browns now have to sort out what the front looks like without the player who anchored it for nine years. Verse, acquired in the trade with the Rams on June 1, arrives with major expectations, and the Browns also added a first-round pick in 2027, a second-rounder in 2028 and a third-rounder in 2029 as part of that deal.
The secondary, though, gives Cleveland a different kind of story. Denzel Ward, the Northeast Ohio native, is front and center in a defensive backs group that features some of the team’s longest-tenured players. That continuity stands out even as so much else around the defense has shifted.
Up front on offense, the Browns may also be thinking about the future while the current depth chart is mostly in place. One idea floating around is whether Cleveland should take a swing on massive offensive tackle Dodji Dahoue. With the line largely set for the next year or two, he could fit as a developmental project for offensive line coach George Warhop to shape.
At quarterback, the competition is officially back in motion. Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders reported to camp on Thursday with the other two quarterbacks and the Browns rookies, setting the stage for a two-way battle at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea.
All of this comes as Cleveland begins its first training camp under coach Todd Monken. The Browns are among the youngest teams in the league, and Monken inherits a roster that has already seen major turnover. His background includes three seasons as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator and a one-year stint as Cleveland’s OC in 2019, and now he’s stepping into a camp defined by change, injuries and a quarterback fight that will draw plenty of attention.
Around the league, the Ravens waived rookie quarterback Diego Pavia to make room for veteran center Ethan Pocic, who officially signed his free agent contract. Baltimore had signed Pavia in April after he became the first Heisman Trophy finalist in 12 years to go undrafted.
Elsewhere, the Raiders locked in Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, on his rookie contract. Mendoza was the final one of Las Vegas’ 10 draft picks to sign, with fourth-round cornerback Jermod McCoy having agreed to his deal on Wednesday.
In Other News...
Browns May Finally Have The Veteran Defensive Move Fans Wanted
After the offseason trade of Myles Garrett and the addition of Jared Verse, Clevelands defense still looks like a unit that could use one more experienced hand. The Browns have been linked to a veteran linebacker who remains on the market, and the appeal is easy to see: he brings versatility, a long track record and the kind of depth every defense ends up needing before the season is over.
Kyle Van Noy also comes with a familiar name on the Browns sideline in offensive coordinator Todd Monken, whose Baltimore overlap gives Cleveland a built-in connection to the veteran. Spotrac has pegged Van Noys market value at about $3.5 million per year, a price that would not be a major swing for a team still sorting out how to round out its front seven. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Already Know The Risk In Moving Dillon Gabriel
Clevelands quarterback room is already crowded enough that Dillon Gabriel looks like the odd man out before training camp even settles in. With Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Taylen Green also in the mix, Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi expects the team to look for a trade partner for Gabriel before the season opener, which turns a backup battle into a roster-management decision pretty quickly.
The tricky part is figuring out what that kind of move is actually worth. Recent quarterback deals around the league have set a loose market for young passers, and Cleveland has to decide whether to move Gabriel now or hold out for a return that feels more meaningful than a throwaway late pick. For a team trying to sort out its depth chart, the risk is obvious: wait too long, and the leverage can disappear fast. [Read more 🡒]
Juan Thornhill May Have Just Sent Browns Fans One More Reminder
Juan Thornhills latest social media post is the kind of thing that gets attention fast, especially for fans who remember how much buzz followed his arrival in Cleveland. The former Browns safety has already spent time with the Steelers and Jaguars since leaving Cleveland, and his most recent stop ended on Jacksonvilles practice squad, so any hint about where he might be headed next naturally turns into a talking point.
What makes the post stand out is the setting as much as the message. Thornhill was shown walking out of the tunnel at Arrowhead Stadium, a place tied closely to the best stretch of his career, and the caption referenced Kansas Citys fanbase. Whether it is simple nostalgia or something more concrete, it has already reopened the door to speculation about a possible Chiefs reunion. [Read more 🡒]