The Cleveland Browns head into next week’s season opener with plenty of uncertainty hanging over the roster, but one thing is already clear: they’re going to need a much stronger passing game if they want to get back into the playoff mix.
There are plenty of questions swirling around this team. How will HC Todd Monken handle the job for the first time at the NFL level?
What kind of drop-off will come from Myles Garrett to Jared Verse on defense? And how will all the young players look once the games count and there are fewer veterans around to steady things?
What the Browns can’t afford is a repeat of last season’s quarterback production. Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders didn’t give Cleveland nearly enough, and even in a league that has drifted away from massive passing totals, the output simply wasn’t close to good enough.
If you use last year’s playoff teams as the measuring stick, the standard is pretty obvious. The Los Angeles Rams finished atop the league with 4,557 passing yards. On the lower end among the 14 playoff teams, the Eagles and Steelers combined to offer a useful benchmark for where Cleveland needs to get.
The Panthers, who won the NFC South at 8-9, probably aren’t the right comparison for a Browns team that has to survive the more talented AFC North. Not every playoff berth carries the same weight.
Cleveland finished last season with the second-fewest passing yards in the NFL at 2,808. Only the New York Jets were worse, and they were way behind at 2,385.
Using the average of the Eagles and Steelers from last year, Browns quarterbacks would need to add roughly 600 passing yards this season to be in the range of a playoff-caliber attack. That works out to just 36 more yards per game.
Passing yards alone won’t tell the full story, of course. The Eagles and Steelers combined for only 16 interceptions last season, while Browns quarterbacks threw 18 picks and only 16 touchdowns. And even a big passing total isn’t a guaranteed ticket to the postseason - the Detroit Lions were third in the NFL in passing yards and still missed the playoffs.
So yes, the Browns need more yardage. They need more touchdowns.
They need fewer interceptions. And they need a lot of things to break right if they’re going to have a real shot at the playoffs.
In Other News...
Browns QB Pressure Is Building Faster Than Fans Expected
With Week 1 approaching, the Browns quarterback conversation is already drifting well beyond the usual backup chatter. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com has been weighing the possibilities behind Deshaun Watson, including rookie Taylen Green as a candidate for QB2 and the chance that Shedeur Sanders could wind up inactive when the season opens.
Watson is still the starter, but the early part of the schedule is going to shape how long that remains unquestioned. The larger intrigue is what happens if the offense stumbles out of the gate, because Cabots reporting suggests Sanders could become part of the mix sooner rather than later if Watson does not deliver early. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Just Made A Cornerback Decision Fans Will Hate
The Browns continued to shuffle their cornerback room by signing Noah Igbinoghene and sending undrafted rookie Michael Coats Jr. to the practice squad, a move that immediately stood out because Coats had turned heads in preseason action. Igbinoghene brings six years of NFL experience, but most of that resume has come with limited results and a heavy emphasis on special teams, which makes this more than a routine depth adjustment for a defense trying to sort out its back end.
For Cleveland, the decision also adds another layer to an offseason that has already sparked questions about how the team balances proven experience against the upside of younger players. Coats showed enough in the summer to at least put himself in the conversation, so moving him off the main roster suggests the Browns still see something different in how they want that spot handled. Whether this is a short-term reset or a sign of where the staff is leaning with its developmental priorities is the part that will keep fans watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Just Reopened A Backup QB Battle Behind Deshaun Watson
With the Browns working through the final stretch before Week 1, Todd Monken left the door open to a backup quarterback competition behind Deshaun Watson. The roster already has four quarterbacks on it, with rookie Taylen Green now in the conversation alongside Shedeur Sanders, while Dillon Gabriel is on injured reserve and not part of the immediate mix. Watson is coming back after multiple injuries, which has made the depth chart behind him a topic worth watching.
Monken said it is possible Cleveland could activate three quarterbacks on game day, though he stopped short of saying that will happen. That leaves the Browns with a little more uncertainty than teams usually want heading into the opener, especially with two young passers trying to carve out a role behind a starter still proving he can stay on the field. For now, the backup job remains unsettled, and the next few practices will matter for anyone hoping to dress on Sunday. [Read more 🡒]