Video Chad Ochocinco on Browns giving Deshaun Watson a very short leash to start 2026 season Former NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco explained how the Cleveland Browns will have a very short leash for quarterback Deshaun Watson, believing that a lack of success in the first two weeks could lead to a change right away.
With former Georgia and Ravens offensive architect Todd Monken stepping in as head coach following the departure of Kevin Stefanski, and Deshaun Watson competing alongside rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland is aiming to reset its culture and rebuild its foundation in a brutal division.
The Browns endured a painful 2025 campaign, finishing dead last in the AFC North with a 5–12 record. Cleveland leaned on tight, low-scoring defensive scraps to pull out occasional victories, but those moments were few and far between. Their offense was inconsistent, but that should be expected considering they had three different quarterbacks. The team averaged a league-worst 16.4 points per game as passing inconsistencies, poor offensive line play, and a lack of rhythm derailed drives before they could start. The inability to move the chains or protect the quarterback eventually brought an end to Stefanski's six-year run in Cleveland, setting off a massive winter teardown.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass to tight end Carsen Ryan during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Aug. 22, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The headlining blockbuster occurred when Cleveland traded two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Rams for a haul that included pass rusher Jared Verse and draft capital. It actually was a good trade for the Browns, getting capital and a talented player to at least somewhat replace Garrett.
Todd Monken talks with the media after being introduced as head coach of the Cleveland Browns during a press conference at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Feb. 3, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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To jump-start the rebuild under Monken, the Browns overhauled their roster through free agency and draft weekend. They signed offensive line help in guard Zion Johnson and center Elgton Jenkins, added linebacker Quincy Williams and defensive tackle Kalia Davis, and stacked the offense with young skill talent like wide receiver Isaiah Bond and dynamic college running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. They also drafted secondary depth and brought in veteran depth with pass rusher A.J. Epenesa and receiver Tylan Wallace.
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Offensively, Monken inherited a revamped line, designed to open up lanes for a backfield rotation led by Judkins alongside veteran Jerry Jeudy and draft additions out wide. However, the quarterback room remains a massive wildcard as Watson attempts to fend off Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel for long-term snaps.
Garrett is not someone who could be replaced easily. While Verse and Alex Wright will man the edges and Denzel Ward remains an elite anchor in the secondary, the front seven lacks proven game-disrupting star power, leaving the defense reliant on scheme and discipline to hold up.
Quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns watch from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field on Sept. 7, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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I really have no idea what to make of these Browns. They are a team with some decent enough pieces, but I’d actually argue their talent has been better in past seasons. They also play in a tough division. They have to face the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals twice per season, and all three are better than the Browns. I only see a few wins on the schedule. I’m taking them under 5.5 games for the season. Watson looked terrible in his last action, and I have no faith in Sanders or Gabriel. There just isn’t reason for any optimism with this team.
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