While my Ohio State Buckeyes get their season started on Saturday, our Cleveland Browns will have to wait a week and a day, while enjoying a few days off right now, to unveil the new team under HC Todd Monken. So many changes this offseason, starting with Monken in place of HC Kevin Stefanskiand a very young roster.
A ton of proverbial ink has been spilled about the Browns quarterback position and the trade of DE Myles Garrett. The reality is that both of those things are probably the biggest storylines
around the team and deserved the attention they received.
While we are ready to move forward with Cleveland’s 2026 season, the decisions made this offseason undergird everyone’s expectations. If Garrett were still on the team, a solid veteran was starting at quarterback, the two exciting rookie wide receivers were on another team, and/or a young, inexperienced head coach was hired, Browns fans and media might see things differently heading into Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A list of a few things I’m excited about and concerned about:
Excited about HC Todd Monken’s Floor
While no one can say for certain whether Monken will be in over his head as a head coach, I have no doubt that he will not be embarrassing Browns fans. For the first time in a long time, Cleveland has a coach with a ton of experience all over the NFL and college. While he’s a first-time head coach and could be fired within a year, I am confident he will not embarrass himself or the team, big picture.
Concerned that the stepdown from Garrett to Verse uncovers many defensive deficiencies
Garrett is the best player in the NFL, just ask the other players. His presence alone made Carson Schwesinger, Mason Graham, Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit, and the rest of the defense better. Add on his performance, and it is possible that Browns defenders are not as good, and some may not even be close, as they’ve looked with Garrett with them. Verse is a darn good player, but the difference between good and game-changer can be stark.
Excited about KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston AND…
… Quinson Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr., and Isaiah Bond.
I’m not sure the last time Cleveland had five offensive weapons that have either proven they are good players or clearly have the ability to do so. Bond might be the least productive, but his high end speed will help open things up for the rest of the Browns offense. Concepcion and Boston can be used in a variety of ways and have already made a lot of plays to start their careers.
Just a lot of fun around a rebuilt offensive line and a mystery box of concern at quarterback.
Concerned about the QB spot
Why wouldn’t I be? Yes, an offense can be good running the ball and with a few key passes, but defenses that get to load the box can make things tough for Judkins and the rest of the running game. Whether it is Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, or Taylen Green, the Browns offense could be handicapped and impact the development of the young players if the quarterback play is as bad or worse than last year’s.
Excited about what is next for Graham and Schwesinger
The Defensive Rookie of the Year outplayed Cleveland’s top pick (Graham) last year, but the defensive tackle really improved as the year went on. Very excited to see how those two young guys, along with Verse, Maliek Collins, and Quincy Williams, perform in the front seven in Year 2.
Concerned about fan apathy
The Browns have done very little, in fact, the opposite, to ingratiate themselves with the greatest fanbase in the world. The decision to start Watson added to that after his fan-blaming press conference, but Cleveland fans have slowly become apathetic toward their team. The Browns do not deserve support, but I am concerned that fans will miss out on the fun stuff because of the losing that has happened and could happen more this season.
Excited about the upside, development of the Browns roster
My favorite type of sports team is a championship-level team. After that is the young developing team with a lot of upside. Cleveland does not have the former but does have the latter, and I’m excited to share that with Browns fans who are able to push through even if the team is losing games. It really is one of the reasons I’m so excited for the SB Nation app, which I’ve said over and over again is all about bringing community together.
Getting to talk about how we see the offensive line coming together, how those weapons on offense are playing well together and off of each other, how the defense is more creative and versatile, how “EMan” (Emmanuel McNeil-Warren) is being used, and, yes, the 2027 NFL draft helping complete the three-year rebuild are all things that are better when we get to talk about them together.
I believe in the core of this team. I believe they have a chance to be decent to good this year, and I do believe they’ll be a fringe playoff contender in 2027. There is a bunch to be excited about, but the obvious concerns still linger.
What are you excited about and concerned about heading into the 2026 Browns season?
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