The questions in Cleveland haven’t gone away, they’ve only grown louder as a new season approaches. The Cleveland Browns are still searching for stability at quarterback, a problem that continues to define their outlook heading into 2026.
Under new head coach Todd Monken, the Browns are expected to give Deshaun Watson another opportunity to reclaim the starting role. At the same time, Shedeur Sanders remains in the mix after an inconsistent debut season.
Watson‘s situation remains uncertain. Once an elite quarterback, he is now several years removed from playing at a high level, leaving questions about whether he can return to form.
Sanders, meanwhile, showed flashes but struggled overall. He finished his rookie campaign with seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 56.6 percent completion rate-numbers that highlight both potential and inconsistency.
Beyond quarterback, Cleveland faces challenges across the roster. The offensive line is undergoing a significant rebuild, with multiple changes made in free agency. Whether the new group can match-or exceed-the peak performance of previous starters remains unclear.
The situation is further complicated by uncertainty surrounding Joel Bitonio, whose pending decision could significantly impact the unit’s stability.
At wide receiver, the Browns still lack proven depth, leaving a noticeable gap in offensive firepower. On defense, the departure of Devin Bush Jr. creates another void, though the addition of Quincy Williams is expected to help stabilize the position.
How Cleveland compares to rivals so far
The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be the early class of the AFC North after free agency, adding talent on both sides of the ball and reinforcing their defense with players like cornerback Jamel Dean and safety Jaquan Brisker, while also bolstering their offense with additions such as wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in the trade market.
The Cincinnati Bengals have focused on adding defensive linemen like Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen, while keeping their core offensive weapons intact and hoping continuity pays dividends.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens have experienced departures of key contributors but countered with signings like Trey Hendrickson on the edge, leaving their overall status more unpredictable.
At this point, most analysts place Cleveland toward the back half of the pack in the division, improved from last year, but still behind teams with more established quarterback play and toptier impact talent.
The Browns‘ draft positioning, with multiple early round picks, suggests Berry and company intend to continue building through April’s NFL draft, addressing remaining holes that free agency left unresolved.
Cleveland‘s free agency story is one of meaningful progress without perfection: the trenches have been fortified, depth has been added, and the roster looks more cohesive than it did at the start of March.
Whether that translates into a jump up the AFC North standings will depend on draft execution and how quickly new pieces assimilate into Monken‘s system.
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