The Cleveland Browns finished with a 5-12 record this offseason. Cleveland finished in last place in the AFC North once again. For some reason, they decided to fire Kevin Stefanski as head coach, but they decided to keep general manager Andrew Berry as general manager. Berry led the search for the new head coach and decided to hire former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
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Jan 4, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (52) celebrates after sacking Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during the second quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
In the process, they also lost defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz this offseason. One of the biggest questions for Monken this offseason will be who is going to be the starting quarterback for Cleveland in 2026? Is it going to be Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, or someone else? These are questions that the Browns organization is going to have to answer.
NFL Insider Believes That the Biggest Need For the Cleveland Browns This Offseason Is Offense
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Jan 4, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) rushes against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Browns biggest issue during the 2025 NFL season was the offensive side of the football. Zac Jackson of the Athletic believes that Cleveland’s biggest need this offseason is offense. Jackson said,
“Sounds simple, right? The Browns hired an offensive-minded head coach in Todd Monken because they’ve got much to fix and several areas in need of upgrades. Prioritizing those needs isn’t easy — fixing them in one offseason won’t be either — but the Browns will have multiple new players across the offensive line and in the wide receiver group. There’s no sure answer at quarterback, either, but stability across the line and additional playmaking help can boost Shedeur Sanders — and help the team get a fuller read on whether Sanders is a realistic long-term option.”
With the Browns having two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, expect them to draft a wide receiver with one of those selections and potentially an offensive lineman with another. Cleveland had one of the worst wide receiver rooms during the 2025 NFL season and there is no doubt that needs major upgrading. The question is, do Browns fans trust Berry to make the right choices during the draft?
Some fans believe he did have a very good 2025 NFL Draft and some think he could have another good one in 2026. However, if Cleveland’s offensive problems still show up in 2026, maybe there will be more changes at the helm.
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