The Todd Monken era has officially arrived in Cleveland, and the mandate couldn’t be clearer: score points. The 2025 season was a painful watch for the Dawg Pound, as the Browns’ offense sputtered to less than 21 points in all but three games, finishing as the second-worst scoring unit in the NFL. Monken, an offensive mastermind who spent the last few seasons orchestrating Baltimore’s high-octane attack, was brought in specifically to stop the bleeding.
It’s a move that feels long overdue, considering the Browns’ defense was nothing short of extraordinary last year. Led by Myles Garrett and his record-breaking sack totals, the defensive unit practically kept the lights on in Cleveland, constantly handing the ball back to an offense that just didn’t know what to do with it.
Shedeur Sanders or a Deshaun Watson Revival?
As we head into the thick of the offseason, the questions in Cleveland far outnumber the answers. The most glaring unknown is, naturally, who will be under center come Week 1. Shedeur Sanders is the wild card here; despite some truly rocky outings, he managed a 3-4 record-the best winning percentage among the team’s rotating door of quarterbacks, including Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel.
Then there’s the Deshaun Watson factor. Entering the final year of his massive contract, Watson is a prime candidate for a “Cinderella” comeback story, but it remains to be seen if Monken can squeeze any of that old Houston magic out of him.
Whoever wins the starting job is walking into a potential disaster zone, however. The Browns’ offense is facing a total identity crisis because, as it stands, nearly the entire starting offensive line is scheduled to hit the open market when free agency kicks off on March 11.
The losses of Joel Bitonio, a 12-year Cleveland fixture, and Wyatt Teller, who has already confirmed he won’t be returning after seven seasons, will be devastating to the locker room and the run game alike.
Can Cleveland Snag Tyler Linderbaum to Save the Line?
With the guard positions looking like a “Help Wanted” sign, the front office is reportedly looking to get aggressive at center. Rumors are swirling that Cleveland is prepared to move on from Ethan Pocic to target Ravens star Tyler Linderbaum, provided Baltimore lets him test the market.
It’s a high-stakes gamble to let so much veteran leadership walk out the door at once, but with the unit needing a complete philosophical shift to match Monken’s speed, a fresh start might be the only option. The tackle situation is equally murky. While there is hope that nine-year veteran Cam Robinson might return for another stint after a solid showing last season, nothing is set in stone.
The only absolute certainty in the trenches right now is Jack Conklin. After signing a 3-year, $45 million extension last March, Conklin is the lone pillar remaining in a rebuilding wall. If Monken wants to prove his offensive genius, he’ll have to do it with a patched-together front that needs to protect whichever quarterback the Browns eventually settle on.
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