The Cleveland Browns may have finished the 2025 season with a 5-12 record, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about them heading into the 2026 season. Before you read about some of the offensive ineptitude I’ll write about, just remember that Cleveland had a stellar defense in 2025, and is retaining almost all of it heading into next season.
It’ll be a reset at head coach as Todd Monken is taking over for Kevin Stefanski heading into next season. Monken is a longtime NFL offensive coordinator, who will seemingly come in with the mindset of transforming what was a stagnant offense in 2025.
Cleveland has plenty of options at QB, though none are great. As it stands right now, the Browns have Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson rostered. They likely won’t pick one in the draft this year considering the weak QB class, so my money, along with many others, is on Sanders getting the nod to start next season.
So, assuming Sanders is the guy heading into next season, the next step is to build out the offense around him. Outside of Jerry Jeudy, the Browns are lacking in the wide receiver room. That will be an area for them to focus on in both free agency and in the draft.
Browns Tabbed to be in the Market for Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuk was one of the most exciting young receivers in the NFL from 2020-2023. But, in the 2024 season, he tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus, leading to season ending surgery that kept him out of the 2025 season as well.
Since then, his relationship with San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and owner John Lynch has suffered irreparable damage, as he’s distanced himself entirely from the team. Though he still has three years left on his contract with the Niners, Lynch has claimed that Aiyuk has played his last snap with the team.
So, that leads us to assume that Aiyuk will be cut ahead of the 2026 season. His cap hit was high, at $15 million, but most of that was in roster bonuses, so money shouldn’t be an issue for teams looking to sign him.
One of those teams should be the Cleveland Browns.
Aiyuk as a Fit With the Cleveland Browns
Sure, Aiyuk hasn’t played an NFL snap since October of 2024, but that amount of time off coupled with a change of scenery can do wonders for a player who was having troubles with his former team.
Cleveland has never shied away giving embattled players a shot (see Deshaun Watson, Josh Gordon, Kareem Hunt), and Aiyuk’s controversy hasn’t been nearly as problematic as any of those guys.
By restructuring or cutting some money from Watson’s deal, which has an $80 million cap hit in 2026, Cleveland should have money to spend this offseason. Why not take a shot on Aiyuk, a former all-pro, while his value is low and he’ll only cost around $12 million in AAV.
If the Browns use their No. 6 pick in the NFL Draft to grab a young WR and add Aiyuk, suddenly they have a sold WR corps. Jeudy, Aiyuk, Isaiah Bond, and a rookie isn’t a bad room for Sanders to work with.
Cleveland could easily turn itself into a playoff contender with its already strong defense and just a couple of strategic moves on offense.
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