A week before the Cleveland Browns open their 2026 preseason, the roster still feels unfinished. The quarterback situation remains unsettled, and even left tackle - a spot that should have been settled by a top-10 draft pick - is drawing questions.
That leaves general manager Andrew Berry with room to keep moving. There are still spots on this team where an upgrade could make a real difference, and a few names on the market fit what Cleveland needs right now.
One obvious area is the edge rush. The Browns did enough in the Myles Garrett trade to force the Rams to include Jared Verse, but the group behind him is still thin, with Alex Wright currently holding the other starting job.
That’s why Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat stands out. Arizona has dealt with its own drama since signing him to a four-year, $74.6 million deal, and reports have suggested he’s unhappy after the team moved on from former head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Sweat is coming off the best pass-rushing season of his career, finishing with 12 sacks, and at 29, he still has plenty left. Media reports have said the Cardinals have listened to offers, though nothing has come together yet.
A second-round pick might be enough to get it done, and Cleveland has one in the 2027 Draft plus two more in 2028. Sweat would also bring something else the Browns barely have on the roster, aside from fullback Michael Burton: a Super Bowl ring.
The defensive line could use help inside, too. Tampa Bay’s Vita Vea has drawn attention after his trade demands surfaced, even after Buccaneers general manager said he has “no plans to trade” the defensive tackle.
In Cleveland, the need is obvious. Injuries have already forced Adin Huntington and Elijah Chatman to work with the starters, and the depth in the middle has been exposed.
Vea would solve that problem and add a proven difference-maker. He’s also a Super Bowl champion, just like Sweat.
The Browns could also use more help in the backfield. Quinshon Judkins had a strong rookie year, but his 3.6 yards per carry average still leaves something to be desired.
Dylan Sampson, a fourth-round pick, hasn’t given the offense much as a rookie either. That opens the door for a veteran who can handle pass protection and share the load, keeping Judkins fresh and allowing Sampson to work more in passing situations.
Nick Chubb is the name that fits that picture. He’d bring leadership back into the locker room, and he has already left the door open to a possible return.
There’s also a quarterback angle that makes sense for Dillon Gabriel, even if the Browns still don’t know who will start Week 1. Gabriel cannot realistically be in the mix after spending the entire offseason outside the competition.
In Atlanta, he’d be reunited with the head coach who backed him last year and the offensive coordinator who coached him as a rookie. The Falcons already have two left-handed quarterbacks on the roster, and Gabriel is a lefty himself.
The fit is clear, even if the compensation would be extremely small.
Finally, Cleveland could still look to the secondary after roster cuts. Three-safety looks should be common after the Browns used a second-round pick on Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell are set on the outside.
Myles Harden currently holds the top nickel job, but there may be an upgrade available. Arthur Maulet and Kenny Moore are two names that could make sense if the price is right.
At worst, the Browns should be able to find a solid second slot corner on a cheap deal in the coming weeks.
In Other News...
Browns Camp Injuries Just Changed The Outlook For A Young Receiver
Training camp has already started reshaping the Browns roster, and Jamari Thrash is the latest young player caught in the shuffle. Cleveland waived the receiver with an injury designation after he suffered a knee injury in camp, a move that leaves his short-term future tied to waivers and the injured reserve process.
The Browns also waived linebacker Reid Carrico while bringing back offensive lineman Jack Conley and adding undrafted rookie cornerback Jeadyn Lukus, another sign of how quickly camp injuries can force depth-chart adjustments. For a team trying to sort out the bottom of the roster, those moves matter, but Thrashs situation stands out because it takes one more developmental receiver out of the picture for the season. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Quarterback Battle May Already Have A Frustrating Ending
The Browns quarterback conversation has been simmering around training camp, but the latest outside read on the situation suggests the club may not view it as much of a battle at all. Deshaun Watson is still working back from an Achilles injury, so the usual checkpoints in camp and preseason remain in front of him, yet the focus inside the building is now on offensive preparation and getting the whole operation moving.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network has consistently pointed to Watson as the most likely starter, a view he said has held since the NFL Scouting Combine in February. If that read proves accurate, the intrigue may not be about who opens the season under center so much as how quickly Watson can look ready enough to make the decision feel settled. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Offensive Line Trouble Just Put Joe Thomas Back In Focus
The Browns eighth day of training camp on Aug. 6 was already leaning toward the trenches before a ball was snapped. Cleveland spent the session working through a ball-control drill while the offense tried to sort through injury absences up front, a reminder of how quickly line depth can become the conversation in camp. The rest of practice had its moments, with receivers Luke Floriea and KC Concepcion drawing attention and the secondary making plays on the back end, but the line situation kept pulling the focus back where it usually lands in Cleveland.
That is the backdrop for why Joe Thomas name keeps surfacing again around the Browns. Todd Monken floated the Hall of Fame left tackle a flexible coaching role, the kind of arrangement that would let Thomas help without being tied down full time, and it is easy to see the appeal when the offensive front is getting thinned out in August. The bigger question is whether that idea can turn into something more useful as the Browns try to steady a position group that suddenly needs all the guidance it can get. [Read more 🡒]