The 2025 NFL Season reached its conclusion after Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara this past Sunday. The Cleveland Browns were not there, but Browns fans can hope and dream that the team reaches the big game in the future. As the offseason will start shortly next month, Cleveland will build its roster in hopes of getting back to what the team was in 2023. As we’ve seen, the Browns have an elite defense, but on the offensive side of the ball, the unit was below average.
Cleveland has a new head coach, Todd
Monken, this season after head coach Kevin Stefanski was fired, and the team will have to figure out its quarterback position as well. How far away are the Cleveland Browns from being legit playoff and Super Bowl contenders?
Super Bowl, Super Browns?
When it comes to Super Bowl contenders for next season, it’s safe to say that the Cleveland Browns aren’t on that list. Most fans already know this by now, with some believing that the team is light-years away from being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Despite boasting an elite defense led by defensive end Myles Garrett, the team is severely limited in their offensive personnel. The team doesn’t have an answer at quarterback, the offensive line will have to replace four or all five starters, and the skill positions (mainly the wide receiver room) have to be overhauled.
Roster construction matters. We just saw the Seattle Seahawks win a Super Bowl with a strong roster construction. Elite-level offense led by an elite wide receiver in Jaxson Smith-Njigba, a top 15 quarterback in Sam Darnold, and a decent offensive line. The Seahawks were not great at every position, including on the offensive line, but had a roster that fit together.
The Browns do not have any of that. The quarterback situation is unsettled as Cleveland once again lacks a definitive answer at the position. Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will have to prove that he’s the guy next season, as head coach Todd Monken was noncommittal towards Sanders. The Browns will likely invest in the quarterback room to have a true quarterback battle and determine who will be the starter come Week 1.
Once a strength, the Browns offensive line is a weakness. It’s safe to say that the team will replace their line, trusting Dawand Jones to be healthy is concerning, and is likely going to attack the room in both free agency and during the draft, and the same can be said for the skill positions.
Defensively, the unit is stacked, but it’s the offense that needs to be fixed.
Playoff Browns?
It’s controversial to some but not to those who pay close attention. If the Cleveland Browns make the necessary upgrades on offense and the quarterback play improves, the team can establish itself as a playoff contender in the AFC in 2026. The AFC North was far from rugged in 2025, with just one team, and not a very good one, coming in with a winning record.
Despite winning only 5 games, the team was competitive throughout the season due to the defense playing at an elite level. However, due to ineffective offense and lackluster special teams, the team found itself playing catch-up and found itself overwhelmed at times.
If the Browns want to get back to playoff contention, the offense has to be better. The AFC is going to be wide open for the next few years. The Kansas City Chiefs are undergoing a retool of some form. The New England Patriots will likely be better next season, same possibly goes for the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, but both have first-time head coaches. The Cincinnati Bengals have quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, but the rest of the roster has weaknesses.
Other teams will be in the conversation for playoff contention, like the top-seeded Denver Broncos, but those are the big-name teams.
It’s hard to see Cleveland regressing next season, considering the young talent that this team possesses. The team will likely clear up cap space to sign players and retain talent (if necessary), a possibility that a splash move could occur (knowing how the Browns operate, it’s a talking point), as well as the draft capital the team possesses. With the right moves and a favorable schedule, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they surpass their win total.
The Cleveland Browns are not close to being a Super Bowl contender; then again, few believed the Seahawks and Patriots were close last offseason. However, this team could be closer to being a playoff contender if they attack the weaknesses on offense and the quarterback play improves. In terms of their rebuild, the Browns are right on schedule due to their rookie class showing their potential and the team isn’t far off from contending for a playoff spot.
