The Cleveland Browns are 3-1, but arguably more exciting than their current record is the culture surrounding this team.
The Browns have the second-youngest roster in the NFL, trailing only the Miami Dolphins.
But as Browns general manager Andrew Berry pointed out all the way back at the NFL Combine, where he discussed the team's plans for significant roster churn to get younger, youth doesn't have to equate to being bad.
"One of the biggest misconceptions is that youth equals lack of performance," Berry said in February.
So far, the seventh-year general manager has been right.
Even though the Browns are 3-1, some fans have not been able to fully enjoy their team because of the quarterback, Deshaun Watson.
The 31-year-old is saving his career. While this isn't a traditional comeback story—Watson has never shown remorse or taken accountability for his poor decisions, either on the field or allegedly off it—he is playing better. Last week, he became the first Browns quarterback since Brian Sipe in 1979 to lead the team to three consecutive game-winning drives. There's a lot of season left to be played, and his future in Cleveland remains unknown.
Disliking Watson is an understandable gripe for Browns fans to have, but don't let it cloud the fun you can have with the rest of this team, especially the young players.
If anything, this season should prove there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Browns have been dreadful offensively over the last two seasons. It's part of the reason why ex-coach Kevin Stefanski could only muster eight wins over the last two years.
But new head coach Todd Monken has way more talent. KC Concepcion looks dangerous with the football in his hands and Denzel Boston leads all rookie receivers in yardage. Quinshon Judkins got going as a pass catcher out of the backfield in Week 4's victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Harold Fannin Jr. looks like one of the best tight ends in the sport, regardless of age. The same could be said for linebacker Carson Schwesinger at his position, as the reigning NFL Rookie of the Year has been all over the field in 2026.
Sprinkle in some lovable and productive veterans like Northeast Ohio's own Denzel Ward, vocal tackling machine Grant Delpit, and the longtime punter/long snapper duo of Corey Bojorquez and Rex Sunahara, and you can start to see why this team isn't just not so bad—it's actually winning games.
Beyond 2026, in real time, Browns fans have an opportunity to watch the future of this team develop. Boston and Fannin continuing to catch touchdowns in winning efforts is stellar for their development. Rookies Spencer Fano and Austin Barber learning on the job while protecting Watson in winning efforts is only going to make them better players and improve the culture.
When the Browns hired Monken in January, it was easy to roll your eyes at the organization's promise to develop young players while still trying to win games in 2026.
But through four games, the players have bought into their first-year head coach, and they've developed a new swagger, led by young players who are producing winning results.