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Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns
If you did not think much of the Cleveland Browns‘ efforts on the offensive side of the ball in recent seasons, take some comfort: The Cleveland Browns didn’t think much of those efforts, either. You don’t really need advanced numbers to prove it, but in case you did, the Browns’ cumulative Pro Football Focus offensive rating in the last three seasons has been No. 28 in 2023, No. 32 in 2024 and No. 32 in 2025. PFF rated starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders dead last among NFL passers, too.
That’s not good. But at least the Browns know it, as general manager Andrew Berry acknowledged on Tuesday as the team introduced new head coach Todd Monken. And he vowed that things will change.
“Coming out of 2025, we have the eighth-youngest defense in terms of experience, one that’s very complete at all three levels and that we feel good about,” Berry said. “On the offensive side we felt like we have a number of young pillars, cornerstone pieces, but we envision a world where that side of the ball is going to have pretty significant turnover in the next several months.”
Browns Have 2 Reliable Young 2026 Offensive Pieces
Now, as a bit of a reality check, if Berry thinks the Browns have cornerstones because they have 2025 draftees Harold Fannin and tight end and Quinshon Judkins at running back, it should be pointed out that tight end and running back are two of the easiest positions to fill on an NFL offense. The Browns do not have cornerstones where it matters–at receiver, on the offensive line and, of course at quarterback.
They have 10 picks in April’s draft, including all of their own picks in the first five rounds, plus an extra first-rounder and two extra fifth-rounders, and they have the ability to create significant cap space in the coming weeks.
“From a resource standpoint, we looked at it and said we are flush with draft resources entering the offseason, as well as the appropriate amount of flexibility from a financial perspective,” Berry said.
But while tearing down and rebuilding the offensive line, which is mostly heading to free agency, is something Berry can do with those assets (the Super Bowl-bound Patriots, for example, have four new offensive lineman), and while it might take only one top receiver to reshape that position room, the quarterback is still the position Cleveland can’t seem to crack.
Is Shedeur Sanders the Quarterback in 2026? Deshaun Watson?
And that’s the question. Can the Browns rebuild the offense enough with line and receiver additions to take pressure off the 2026 quarterback and allow the team to win with even a mediocre starter under center?
As of now, it is Shedeur Sanders’ job, but the Browns keep hinting that Deshaun Watson might be a factor. There’s trade possibilities (Mac Jones?), free agency (Malik Willis?) and a mostly underwhelming draft class.
That’s one of the frustrations with the Browns, and one reason that potential candidates dropped out during the process–it’s hard to win in the NFL if you’re speculating on whom your quarterback might be in February.
Browns Giving Shedeur Sanders Better Weapons Would Help
But quarterback speculation will dominate the Browns’ offseason, even with the “turnover.”
Said Berry: “We go into each offseason as if we have an expansion team. Particularly a quarterback, where it’s the most important position in sports. We’ll always do research in terms of like what opportunities are available on the veteran market and in the draft market. … But quarterback no different than a number of other positions.”
Putting Sanders–or a rehabbed Watson, or Mac Jones, for that matter–behind a competent offensive line with better receiver talent and time to work under Monken can only lead to better results than in 2025. A lot of offensive turnover can’t be a bad thing.
But again, the Browns were the worst offense, so there’s nowhere to go but up.
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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