2026 NFL offseason preview: Cleveland Browns' major goal should be overhauling QB and offense

4 days ago 2

The NFL offseason has begun, and Yahoo Sports is previewing the coming months for all 32 teams, from free agency through the draft and more.

Cleveland Browns

2025 season record: 5-12, (o 4.5 wins), fourth in AFC North, missed playoffs, 31st in DVOA

Overview

This Browns’ season was never going to be about success in 2025. From roster moves to trades in the draft, Cleveland’s focus was on what comes next. Along the way, the Browns started two rookie quarterbacks who each played like the worst starter in the league and finished last in just about every offensive category. In some of those, last feels generous. The defense, though, was top five in DVOA, and Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record with his 23rd sack in the season finale.

Cleveland seemingly hit on many of the non-quarterback 2025 draft picks — tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and linebacker Carson Schwesinger will be top contenders for Rookie of the Year on each side of the ball, if not outright winners — while the Browns picked up a ton of future draft capital, entering the 2026 draft with two first-round picks.

Kevin Stefanski is out as head coach, but general manager Andrew Berry will stay on to oversee what the next era of the Browns might be.

Cap/cuts outlook

Cleveland has -$27.7 million in effective salary cap space, which is the fifth-worst mark in the league. There is not likely to be a Deshaun Watson resolution this offseason. A post-June 1 cut would be a net zero at an $80 million cap hit, but it would add about $23 million to the 2027 cap. Cleveland could make that move now, with over $100 million in space projected for 2027, but without any of the contracts that will be added this offseason. During his end of season news conference, Berry said he anticipated Watson would remain on the roster.

The Browns are a weird team when it comes to analyzing the cap, especially this offseason, because of all of the void years coming. For example, there is currently a $24 million cap hold for David Njoku, who is scheduled to be a free agent. The contract voids on Feb. 10 and if he is not re-signed by that date, the prorated signing bonuses from the void years added to his deal would accelerate to this year’s cap. But if the Browns come to terms on an extension before that void date, the new contract would allow the Browns to lower the cap hit and clear space for 2026. This is the case, to some degree, for just about all of Cleveland’s free agents.

Key pending free agents

TE David Njoku
LB Devin Bush
OL Joel Bitonio
OL Wyatt Teller
OL Ethan Pocic
OL Cam Robinson
OL Jack Conklin

Njoku played in only 12 games and was on the field for 43% of the Browns’ dropbacks. He was targeted on only 17% of his routes and fell behind Fannin as the go-to tight end. Having both on the field didn’t help much. The Browns averaged 4.3 yards per play with both, the equivalent of their league-worst average overall. Bush came alive and thrived in the middle next to Carson Schwesinger. Bush was 10th in yards allowed per coverage snap (min. 100) among linebackers and was third in the rate of tackles that produced a positive play for the defense.

Most of Cleveland’s starting offensive line is scheduled to be free agents. This is a line that has dropped off in quality due to age and injuries, but we won’t expect the Browns to completely move on with four new starters and Dawand Jones, who went out for the season in Week 3.

Positional needs

Quarterback
Offensive line
Wide receiver

It’s time to overhaul the offense. Among 45 quarterbacks who threw at least 100 passes, Dillion Gabriel ranked 42nd in EPA per play. Shedeur Sanders was 43rd. Both had their faults and neither looked like the type of quarterback who could lift those around them — that was too high an expectation for a third- and fifth-round pick.

Just for numbers, the Browns need help along the offensive line, depending on how many players they retain as free agents. The line was in the bottom third in pass block and run block win rates, per ESPN.

Wide receiver has been a bugaboo position for Andrew Berry in his GM tenure with the Browns. There have been a ton of draft misses betting on speed, while the trade plus extension for Jerry Jeudy has led to an underwhelming 1.41 yards per route run in his time with the Browns.

2026 NFL Draft picks

1st round, pick No. 6
1st round (JAX)
2nd round 3rd round
4th round
5th round
5th round (LV)
5th round (CIN)
6th round (CHI)
7th round (SEA)

Good draft fit

Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Barring packaging their other first-rounder and trying to move up for a quarterback, the Browns should address the offensive line. Fano played both left and right tackle in college, and while he can stand to add weight, he’s a good athlete who stays on his feet and is strong in the run game.

What could move the fantasy needle in 2026?

Fix the offensive line

The Browns hit on some young players in this most recent draft, including RB Quinshon Judkins and TE Harold Fannin Jr. Cleveland still needs a quarterback and a complete refresh of the wide receiver room. However, the offensive line has hit a breaking point due to age and expiring contracts. If that doesn’t get corrected in the offseason, I’m not sure what they add at those more marquee positions will move the needle much at all. That has to be top of mind for GM Andrew Berry, who was retained despite head coach Kevin Stefanski being shown the door. — Matt Harmon