The Cleveland Browns will likely be terrible again in 2026.
The Cleveland Browns have been predicted to be a walking disaster again in Year 1 of the Todd Monken era by NFL analyst Moe Moton of Bleacher Report.
Moton believes the Browns will go 3-14 this season.
"The Browns will be an interesting watch through the 2026 season," Moton wrote. "They won't win a lot of games, though. Regardless of who wins the quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, the signal-caller will need time to build a rapport with rookie receivers, KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. He'll also play behind an entirely new offensive line. The Browns traded edge-rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, which is a significant blow to their pass rush and ability to win low-scoring games. Cleveland will size up quarterback prospects in the 2027 class after a three-win season."
The Browns play the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts this season. That's a pretty tough schedule.
Cleveland traded Garrett to the Rams this offseason. Jared Verse is a good player, but he's not an all-world talent like Garrett.
As a result, Cleveland's defense will take a step back in 2026.
The Browns' offense will likely be putrid next season as well. Sanders or Watson will be the starting QB and both guys are below-average QBs.
Sanders finished his rookie season with 1,400 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He went 3-4 as a starter.
Meanwhile, Watson didn't play last season. He was recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered during the 2024 season.
Since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, the lowest among qualified passers. The odds of the former Houston Texans star turning back the clock after an Achilles tear are pretty low, which is why many NFL pundits believe Cleveland should start Shedeur so the team can fully evaluate him for an entire season.
Cleveland faces Jacksonville in Week 1. It will be interesting to see who is under center for the Browns.
