The Cleveland Browns could start the 2026 NFL season 0-4.
The Cleveland Browns have been predicted to start the 2026 NFL season "cold."
After seeing that the Browns will face the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers to begin next season, NFL analyst Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report wrote the following:
"The Cleveland Browns have long been a tomato can in the AFC North, and if the early part of the schedule is any indication, the team should try to work a sponsorship deal with Hunt's. The Browns are already a touchdown underdog against the Jaguars on the road in Week 1, and after that comes another game in Florida against the Buccaneers before hosting two playoff teams in the Carolina Panthers and Steelers."
The Browns could start next season 0-4 in Year 1 of the Todd Monken era. The Jaguars, Buccaneers, Panthers and Steelers are much better than Cleveland.
All signs point toward the Browns missing the playoffs again next season. Even though the defense should be stout with Myles Garrett and Carson Schwesinger leading the way, the offense has several question marks.
Cleveland drafted Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Austin Barber, Parker Brailsford, Justin Jefferson, Joe Royer, Taylen Green and Carsen Ryan in the 2026 draft. That's a strong class, so the Browns appear to have a bright future.
Assuming that Deshaun Watson starts at QB next season and struggles, the Browns' offense will be below average again. Suspension and injuries have limited Watson to 19 games since he arrived in Cleveland. Since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, the lowest among qualified passers.
A Clemson product, Watson has 3,365 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns with Cleveland. He's thrown 12 interceptions.
Watson becomes a free agent after next season, so 2026 should be the final campaign the QB is on the Browns' roster. Fans don't want to hear this, but Cleveland is better suited to be a poor team again next season so it can draft a franchise QB in the 2027 draft.
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