Can the Cleveland Browns, with average quarterback play, win the AFC North? The Browns will enter the 2026 NFL season with a retooled offensive line, a new set of receiving weapons, and one of the league’s most talented defenses. They will also benefit from a dismal 5-12 campaign in 2025 that netted them the easiest schedule in the AFC and the fourth-easiest league-wide. With new head coach Todd Monken preparing to change how the offense operates, with a rebuilt line and a rookie receiver group loaded with talent, the biggest question will still be which quarterback starts and completes the 2026 season.
The secret here that no one seems to be discussing is that Monken doesn’t need the Deshaun Watson of old to compete this season. In fact, he doesn’t need to factor in Deshaun at all. What the Browns need is simple—they need Shedeur Sanders to play at a league-average level for Cleveland to win the AFC North
Cleveland Browns With Average Quarterback Play Can Win the AFC North
The Supporting Cast
Cleveland’s roster has taken on a significantly different look over the last two seasons. The 2025 additions included core players on the defensive line, at running back, tight end, and linebacker, while also bringing in a pair of passers in Dillon Gabriel and Sanders. In 2026, they went after immediate needs and skill positions:
Offensive line upgrade: First-round talent Spencer Fano will give the Browns options on the blind side, with either Fano or Tytus Howard representing an immediate upgrade over the oft-injured Dawand Jones. Austin Barber and Parker Brailsford will add depth to a unit that was completely devoid of it by the end of the 2025 season.
Offensive Skill positions: Wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston completely change the dynamic at receiver. Coupled with second-year player Harold Fannin Jr., they give the Browns one of the deepest offensive skill groups in the division.
Defensive Skill Positions: Cleveland added safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and linebacker Justin Jefferson—two players likely to make an early impact in their rookie year.
The defense remains a structural advantage. Myles Garrett is the stick of dynamite at the end of a front four that is going to be a problem for opposing offenses again this season. The unit ranked near the top of the league in total defense in 2025, and adding skill players for depth and eventual starter reps was a savvy move by Andrew Berry. This defense is talented enough to force game-winning scenarios for the offense every week.
It’s this defensive prowess that puts the Browns in position to win an AFC North title with simply average quarterback play.
Setting Reasonable Expectations
Shedeur’s 2025 stat line was 120-of-212 (56.6%) for 1,400 yards, 7 TDs, 10 INTs, and a 68.1 passer rating across eight games. Context matters here. With limited snaps and a head coach who seemed hell-bent on making Dillon Gabriel work before being forced to turn to Sanders, it was trial by fire for Shedeur.
Regardless of his draft slot, Sanders’ college profile featured one of the most accurate arms in his class. Yes, unnecessary scrambling was also part of that profile, but the line in front of him last season gave him little chance to correct it. Limited snaps behind a limited line should produce limited results. This is basic NFL math.
This is where hiring Todd Monken may be the move the Browns needed to clear the hurdle to the top quickly. As the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, much of his focus was on quick decisions, pre-snap adjustments, and play-action setups off a stout run game. Cleveland now has the necessary ingredients to cook up that recipe: a receiving group that can create quick separation, a new offensive line, and a stable of running backs who can chew up chunks of turf.
Average Quarterback Play Can Create Wins
To reach the league-average mark, a quarterback needs just above a 90 passer rating, around 6.5 yards per attempt, and just under 65% completions. It’s nothing flashy, but it’s the kind of play that keeps the ball out of harm’s way, keeps your defense on the sideline, and lets you own time of possession. It’s a simple method to win ball games.
The five keys for the Browns in 2026:
Win the turnover battle
Own the time of possession
Control the battle of the field position
Stay in manageable third downs
Keep it simple
This is the path to winning most football games, and with league-average quarterback play, all of these are reasonable goals for the Browns in 2026.
The Path to the AFC North Crown
There’s a bit of daylight for the Browns through the cracked window of contention in the AFC North. The Ravens will still be the most dominant team from a personnel standpoint, but they are transitioning away from the Harbaugh era, so there may be some lag before they get firing on all cylinders. The Bengals will still live and die every Sunday by what their offense and Joe Burrow can provide. The Steelers will be in their first season without Mike Tomlin, with possibly Aaron Rodgers or a quarterback-to-be-named-later running Mike McCarthy’s offense.
There’s a real chance for Cleveland to pile up some early wins and carry momentum through the season. A 10- or 11-win season could come from a very simple stat line for Shedeur: 3,500 passing yards, 22 TDs, and 12 INTs. That’s not unreasonable, and so long as the ground game is efficient, it may be all that is needed.
Monken’s offensive history fits perfectly here: run the ball, set up the quick hits, take the occasional deep shot, and stay away from turnovers. Finding ways to control the clock and force opposing offenses to become more and more one-dimensional as the game progresses will give the Browns’ defense the chance to decide games in the fourth quarter.
The Last Word
The Browns don’t need a hero at the quarterback position. All they need is a player who will eliminate mistakes and get the ball to the skill-position players around him. They need a point guard. Cleveland needs a facilitator for the offense, not the defining factor. They need a game manager willing to let those around him do the work by putting them in the best position to succeed.
Everything in Shedeur’s skill set suggests he is capable of this goal. He doesn’t have to be the man. He doesn’t have to be “showtime.” All he has to do is show up and play league-average football.
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