The Browns have already done a lot of work on their 2026 roster, but a few spots still feel unfinished. Quarterback remains the biggest question, and that’s a problem Cleveland has lived with for most of its existence. But beyond that, there are still some familiar names who would fit this team without much fuss.
Take Kevin Zeitler. Cleveland’s offensive line has been reworked this offseason, but there are still reasons to be uneasy.
Zion Johnson has not exactly been the picture of consistency in his career, and Teven Jenkins, while solid, may be more of a backup than a locked-in starter. Zeitler would give the Browns exactly what they’d want in a veteran guard: steadiness, pass protection, and a player who knows how to do the job without drama.
He’s coming off a strong season with the Tennessee Titans, and even if he were only insurance, he’d be a dependable option while Cleveland sorts through its new pieces up front. The catch, of course, is Johnson’s lucrative contract.
That makes a move unlikely, but if Johnson stumbles early, the Browns can’t afford to keep playing him just because of the money.
Nick Chubb is a different kind of fit. This one carries more nostalgia than anything else, but there’s still a football case to make.
Cleveland should be in decent shape with Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson leading the backfield, yet Chubb could still handle a goal-line role and would clearly be an upgrade over Raheim Sanders and Ahmani Marshall. Beyond the field, he brings the kind of veteran presence every team leans on when things get messy.
The source of the fit is obvious: Chubb probably never wanted to leave, and he likely would have accepted a smaller role if it meant staying with the team that drafted him. He’s expected to return and retire as a Brown someday, but the question is whether Cleveland would ever give him a few carries a game instead of waiting for a one-day contract.
Then there’s Jadeveon Clowney, who makes sense for a different reason entirely. The Browns traded away the best pass rusher in the league, and while nobody is pretending anyone can replace Myles Garrett, they still can’t just shrug and move on.
Jared Verse has a bright future, but depth still matters. Clowney has spent recent years as something of a football mercenary, moving from team to team while still producing sacks and quarterback hits.
He also just turned in a strong 2025 season with Dallas, which is a reminder that there’s still juice left. Cleveland may be fine with Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire opposite Verse, but “fine” is not the standard this franchise usually wants in the pass rush.
At the very least, Clowney is a name worth considering.
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Browns First Round Receiver Already Facing A Camp Fight
The Browns rookie class is already sorting itself out before camp even opens, and the clearest path belongs to Spencer Fano and Denzel Boston. Fano is expected to step in at left tackle, while Boston has positioned himself for a starting receiver role, giving Cleveland at least two first-year additions with a straightforward runway into major snaps.
KC Concepcion, though, is entering a different kind of summer. The first-round receiver is in line to compete for a slot role and should still see the field in a crowded wideout room, but the job he wants is not being handed over without a fight. With the Browns looking to lean on depth at receiver, this is the kind of camp battle that could shape how quickly the offense settles in around its new pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Still Waiting For This QB Battle To Get Real
Training camp is finally giving the Browns a chance to sort out their quarterback picture, and the early stages of the competition are set to feature Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders getting plenty of work. Cleveland has spent the spring with the position under a microscope, and the team now moves into a stretch where every rep, every drill and every preseason snap will matter a little more than the last.
Todd Monken still has not tipped his hand, which keeps the battle from feeling settled even as the calendar turns toward joint practices and preseason action against the Bills. For now, the Browns are letting the competition breathe, and the real answer may not come until after those August tests make the decision harder to avoid. [Read more 🡒]