The Browns are headed into 2026 with more hanging over them than just the quarterback mess. That issue is the loudest one, sure, but it’s not the only one that’s going to follow this team around all season long.
Cleveland’s young talent still gives the roster some hope. But there are several problems that don’t look like they’re going anywhere, no matter how the year plays out.
At the top of the list is the quarterback saga. Deshaun Watson will start Week 1, but it’s fair to wonder how long that lasts.
The Browns’ QB situation is going to be a constant topic from the jump, and the conversation won’t settle down even if - and when - Shedeur Sanders gets on the field. At that point, the debate will just shift to whether Sanders is overrated, whether he’s the second coming of Tom Brady, or whether Cleveland should be looking for a quarterback in the 2027 draft.
Either way, this storyline doesn’t look close to ending.
The defense brings its own issues, too. On paper, it’s elite.
In reality, the depth chart has some fragile spots. A single injury could put the Browns in a real bind at linebacker, cornerback, or along the defensive line.
Andrew Berry will try to patch those holes during the season, but unless he keeps landing on gold over and over, the depth problem is going to stick around.
Then there’s the Myles Garrett shadow, and that one isn’t fading anytime soon. The blockbuster trade that sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on June 1 is going to hang over everything.
That’s what happens when a team lets a generational edge rusher walk away. If Cleveland’s defense stumbles, or if newcomer Jared Verse catches fire, the national conversation is going to swing right back to Garrett.
Until the Browns prove otherwise on the field, they’ll be living with that comparison.
Todd Monken is in that spotlight now, too. He came into Berea with the image of a hard-nosed coach who would say what he meant and not let anyone push him around.
But for a lot of fans, that changed when he named Deshaun Watson his QB1. Maybe it was his call, maybe it wasn’t.
Either way, he made the announcement, and that’s not something Browns fans are going to forget. From here on out, every decision he makes is going to get picked apart.
And then there’s Jimmy Haslam, the name that always seems to hover over this franchise. Plenty of fans think the Watson decision had ownership written all over it.
If you’ve watched this team long enough, you already know why that suspicion never really goes away. Haslam has a way of getting involved and leaving the franchise worse for it.
In Other News...
Browns Have A Low-Risk O-Line Gamble Worth Watching
The Giants decision to cut Evan Neal puts a former first-round pick back on the market at a time when teams looking for offensive line help are always willing to kick the tires. Neals career has been uneven since he entered the league, with 29 games across three seasons and the entire 2025 season lost, but that kind of pedigree still tends to draw attention from clubs that believe a change of scenery can help.
For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious enough to make this a story worth watching. The Browns have spent enough time searching for stability up front to at least consider whether Neal fits as a low-risk swing, even if no official move has been reported. It is the kind of depth gamble that does not require much to make sense, but it also only matters if a team believes the upside is still hiding somewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Browns 53-Man Roster Leaves One Big Quarterback Question
The Browns got through roster cutdown day with a few notable choices that will shape the early weeks of the season, but the biggest takeaway might be what they did at quarterback. Cleveland carried four quarterbacks on its initial 53-man roster, then moved Dillon Gabriel to injured reserve because of a back injury, leaving the room in a more unusual spot than most teams would prefer as the opening week approaches.
Elsewhere, the front office made a clear statement about the future by keeping all 10 members of its 2026 draft class in the organization, with nine on the active roster and one on the reserve/non-football illness list. It gives the Browns a deep look at a young class right away, but it also leaves the quarterback picture hanging over the roster in a way that could matter well beyond the first few weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Left One Roster Question Hanging After Waiver Day
Waiver day gave the Browns a little roster movement, but also a clearer look at where the depth chart still feels unfinished. Cleveland used its No. 6 priority to claim rookie cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. from the Bills, then opened a spot by releasing veteran edge rusher Julian Okwara, a move that left the team with only three defensive ends on the roster.
The more interesting part may be what Cleveland did not do. The Browns passed on young tight ends Justin Joly and Cameron Latu, both of whom were claimed elsewhere, even while keeping their preseason look at Mike Hall Jr. as an edge defender. With the roster now trimmed and a few decisions already made, the remaining question is whether the Browns are truly set at that spot or still leaving themselves room to adjust. [Read more 🡒]