The Cleveland Browns. Man, that franchise has been a textbook example of “how not to run a team” for what feels like forever. We’re talking three playoff trips and one measly postseason win since 1999, nineteen seasons with double-digit losses, and a 0-16 year that still haunts the league. But believe it or not, even with a young squad, a first-time head coach, and the absolute worst quarterback room in the NFL, they actually did some smart stuff this offseason.
Finally, a Draft That Actually Tackles Their Problems
You know the feeling when your team has a glaring hole and the front office just… ignores it? Yeah, the Browns usually do that. But not this year. General Manager Andrew Berry actually pulled his head out and addressed their major needs in the 2026 NFL Draft. Their wide receiver room was seriously underperforming, so what did Berry do? He snagged KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Boom. The offensive line was aging and constantly injured, so they brought in Spencer Fano, Austin Barber, and Parker Brailsford. Will all these picks be Hall of Famers? Probably not, that’s the NFL. But recognizing the problem and using the draft to *try* and fix it? That’s a huge step for them.
Trading a Superstar Hurts, But This Incoming Talent Makes It Right
Losing a player like Myles Garrett stings, no doubt about it. We’ve seen star players leave our Emerald City teams and it always hurts. The Browns trading Garrett was “understandable,” says the source, but still a bummer. However, Berry didn’t just let him go for peanuts. Insisting that the Los Angeles Rams include Jared Verse in that trade? That’s the kind of power move you love to see. Verse was the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and has logged a ridiculous 99 quarterback pressures in just two seasons. He might not be Garrett, because who is, but getting a guy like that immediately softens the blow and gives their defense an instant jolt. Plus, add him to the productive 2025 class of running back Quinshon Judkins, defensive tackle Mason Graham, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, and tight end Harold Fannin Jr., and you’ve got a promising young core brewing there.
Maybe Not Fixing the QB Was the Smartest Move All Along?
Let’s be real: Cleveland’s quarterback situation is dismal. It’s objectively the worst in the entire league, and oddsmakers are basically guaranteeing another double-digit loss season. But here’s the kicker: it could have been even worse. Andrew Berry wisely avoided the trap of signing an aging veteran like a Kirk Cousins or, dare I say it, a Geno Smith. Sometimes the best move is the one you *don’t* make, right? On the coaching side, after Jim Schwartz packed up, the Browns brought in Mike Rutenberg as their new Defensive Coordinator. Rutenberg is planning to unleash more zone blitzes and, with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, throw more three-safety looks at offenses. That’s a good sign for keeping opponents guessing.
So yeah, the Browns are still the Browns in many ways, and the QB situation is still rough. But as training camp looms, these moves offer a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, this season won’t be another entry in their long history of disappointments.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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