The Browns open their season next Sunday, September 7, with a home matchup against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. It’s a highly anticipated opener, pitting Cleveland against one of the AFC’s most dangerous teams right out of the gate.
Going into this season, the bar isn’t set too high for the Browns after falling hard from a playoff run in 2023, to a rough 3-14 finish last year. A lot went wrong for the team, but the problems really started at quarterback. Deshaun Watson, who the Browns acquired from the Houston Texans in 2022, never found a rhythm and ruptured his achilles just seven games into the season. From there, quarterback duties were split between veteran Jameis Winston and second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but neither could spark much consistency, and the season quickly went downhill.
Looking at this season, the team’s roster looks quite different in certain areas. With Watson still recovering from his 2024 injury, the Browns rostered four quarterbacks going into the preseason: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders. The team decided to bring back Flacco after he led the team to the aforementioned 2023 playoff berth. Despite turning 40 this past January, it appears he can still hold his own on the field. The Browns traded for Pickett in March, hoping to get on-field value from his experience as a starter. However, after an injury-riddled training camp and preseason, the Browns dealt him to the Raiders in exchange for a future seventh round pick. Finally, the Browns selected QB’s Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in April’s draft. This rather unconventional strategy of taking two quarterbacks in one draft turned heads throughout the league and the Browns fanbase, especially due to the latter’s fame, being the son of Hall of Fame CB Deion Sanders. While both rookie signal callers showed moments of promise throughout the preseason, Head Coach Kevin Stefanski ultimately gave the starting nod to the veteran Flacco. Gabriel will back up Flacco, and Sanders will serve as the team’s emergency QB3. A lot of Cleveland’s success this year will hinge on the play of Flacco, and whether or not he can recreate the magic he brought to Cleveland two seasons ago.
Elsewhere on the roster, the Browns saw major changes. Longtime star running back Nick Chubb left in free agency to join the Houston Texans, leaving a big hole in the backfield. As a result, the Browns looked to the draft, taking two intriguing youngsters in Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins and Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson. However, due to legal issues, Judkins has yet to sign a contract with the Browns, leaving Sampson to split carries with veteran Jerome Ford to start the year. The team’s receiving corps looks relatively the same, as they look to rely on pass catchers Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku to anchor the offense. As for the defense, Cleveland re-signed last year’s Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to a 4-year extension, ensuring the future Hall of Famer stays with the Browns for the foreseeable future. Cleveland also bolstered its defensive front with the addition of No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham. The defensive tackle out of Michigan is expected to take some pressure off of Garrett and breathe new life into a defense that struggled last year. After the retirement of LB Jordan Hicks, and with star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out for the season with a neck injury, Cleveland took UCLA LB Carson Schwessinger in the second round of this year’s draft. Following a standout preseason, the team believes he has the tools to develop into a defense cornerstone. Looking at the rest of the roster, the defensive backs group looks similar to last year, with CB’s Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II along with safety Grant Delpit looking to continue to lock down pass catchers.
As for the Browns schedule this year, it’s about as brutal as it gets. Based on 2023 records, the team has the second toughest schedule—a challenge that, when paired with a rebuilding roster, could derail the season before it gains any momentum. The key for Cleveland will be getting off to a good start, as after the opening game against Cincinnati, the Browns have a brutal four-game stretch against some of the best teams in the league: the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings. If the Browns can come away with a 2-3 record after this opening slate of games, they could be set up for success going into the rest of the season. However, as is usual for the Brown’s, fans shouldn’t get their hopes up, and be prepared for the possibility of another disappointing season.
