The Browns are in the final stretch before Week 1, with the last bits of business getting handled before the trip to Jacksonville to open against the Jaguars. After an offseason that kept Cleveland in the spotlight mostly because of the quarterback battle and the Myles Garrett trade, the wait for actual football is almost over.
There’s plenty of natural optimism around the league this time of year, but Cleveland has a few real reasons to feel better about what comes next in 2026.
The biggest shift starts on the sideline. Kevin Stefanski gave the Browns their most successful run in years, but the message may have run its course.
Todd Monken, along with three new coordinators, brings a different energy to the building. That feels especially important on offense, where Cleveland had some encouraging moments from rookies Harold Fannin Jr. and Quinshon Judkins last year, but little overall direction.
The numbers tell the story. Browns quarterbacks combined for a 57.9 percent completion rate, 2,807 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns to 18 interceptions.
Those are rough totals for one quarterback, much less three. Change was overdue, and Cleveland made it.
There’s also a strong case that last year’s draft class is only scratching the surface. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger set the tone and finished with Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
First-round pick Mason Graham ended the year on a high note. Fannin led the team in every major receiving category.
That group already made an impact, and with a year of experience behind them, the upside is obvious. Dylan Sampson and Isaiah Bond are two more names expected to take a step forward in year two.
And then there were the offseason newcomers who flashed enough to get attention. Wide receiver KC Concepcion won the Maurice Bassett Award as the team’s most outstanding rookie, while Denzel Boston was one of the summer’s biggest standouts.
Top-10 pick Spencer Fano also won over the coaching staff after a camp fight with Jared Verse that convinced them he was ready to handle the left side. Second-round safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren should see plenty of time on defense, particularly in the box.
There’s a young core here with real promise in multiple spots.
The schedule may be the cleanest path of all. Based on last year’s records, the Browns have the NFL’s easiest schedule in 2026.
Only three opponents finished 2025 with winning records: the Steelers, Texans and Jaguars. Cleveland also has the second-fewest travel miles in the league, no international game, and just one trip outside its time zone all season, to New Orleans for a Week 9 game.
The timing lines up well, too. The bye arrives in late November, and the Browns get four straight home games in the second half of the season from Weeks 10 through 14, bye week included. That gives them a real chance to make a push.
The sportsbooks still aren’t sold, with Cleveland’s expected win total sitting at 5.5 in a number of places. But between two strong draft classes, a revamped coaching setup and a favorable slate, there’s enough here to think this team could be headed in a better direction.
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 🡒]