In 2024, it was Deshaun Watson. In 2025, it was head coach Kevin Stefanski. Almost every January, the Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam accepts the team’s and the ownership’s failure and promises the fans a turnaround because “they deserve more.” Every following January, it’s the same story all over again. Browns fans have picked themselves up for 26 years. The Haslams, as guilty as they may be, have kept knocking them back down.

He has cycled through 27 starting quarterbacks in the last 13 years. Every time we think it’s over, it is, in fact, not. Because 2026 brings the same questions again. Yet, as Haslam appeared in Brook Park to break ground for the Browns’ new stadium, set to open in 2029, he had another request to add to his annual blunder-acceptance tradition.

“I’m going to speak to the elephant in the room,” said Jimmy Haslam during the groundbreaking ceremony on April 30th. “We have done a lousy job, okay?

“And I want you to know that it drives Whitney, Dee, JW, and I, but particularly JW and I, crazy, okay? And I promise you we are working hard every day, as are Andrew, Coach Monk, Carson, and Tenzel, to turn that around, okay? Because our fans deserve better than we’ve given you the last couple of years.

“I think if we can have, what do you think, three or four more drafts like we had this year, then we can get there. So we are working hard on that. And what we have done so far is not satisfactory. I think Whitney, JW, and Dave did a great job on the fans. We have unbelievable fans. We just need to win more games for them.”

The Browns’ 2025 NFL Draft outing may not have impressed many, but it still had analysts turn their heads to pay attention. Berry did one better in the 2026 NFL Draft. They addressed their top needs with offensive tackle Spencer Fano, wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, and safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. These can have an immediate impact on the team heading into the season.

Then there were third-round pick offensive lineman Austin Barber and fifth-round pick Parker Brailsford. Both are considered good additions for the Browns vying to rebuild their o-line.

The common consensus, however, remains that they will need many more such drafts to improve themselves.

Even sixth-round Taylen Green is touted to be an interesting pick. He has size and athleticism and was compared to the second-best quarterback, Ty Simpson, throughout the offseason. Interestingly, before the draft, it was Ty Simpson who was always connected to the Browns, with the team having a ninth overall pick. But who can argue with picking up Fano?

However, while this draft strategy establishes them in a good position for the future, the current system continues to create complications. And mostly, the blame could fall on Haslam.

A few words here and there, but this was, interestingly, the same speech Haslam gave earlier in January while deflecting part of the blame to Stefanski. According to him, the team had enough talent to win more than five games. But let’s break down what’s really going on in Berea:

• The 2022 trade for Deshaun Watson is one of the biggest fails in league history, something that the head coach or the general managers wouldn’t have had the right to give a go-ahead. Meaning, the ownership pushed for it.
• After just one season, Watson turned out to be a bust for the Browns, and Haslam finally accepted in 2024 that he was indeed a “swing and miss” for them.
• Fast forward to 2025, and they drafted in two mid-round quarterbacks with Joe Flacco as the only veteran. The latter turned into dust early in the season, and the rookies could only manage so much.
• After the season, Haslam fired the one good head coach they had in years. The aftermath? Stefanski became the top-hunted coach in the carousel while Cleveland failed to even be an afterthought.

And moving into 2026, there is no turnaround as such.

Yes, GM Andrew Berry may have finally found the extinguisher and made some good leaps in the 2026 NFL Draft. But Watson, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders are stuck in a quarterback competition again, with Arkansas’ Taylen Green joining them as a sixth-round QB. Meanwhile, it remains an open competition.

Shedeur Sanders will face fierce competition to become QB1

Sanders was never bound to come to the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 Draft. You see, he was projected to be a first-rounder. Neh, a top-five pick. But the D-day did him dirty, and he fell to the fifth round and onto the laps of the Browns. But they had already drafted Gabriel in the third round and also had Flacco and Watson in the QB room.

Ultimately, Sanders found his way to the starter position and ended the season with more wins than any other QB and more exciting plays. Many believed he would resume his role in 2026. But with Monken replacing Stefanksi, things have changed.

He stated that everyone would have to prove their worth and no favors would be granted. So, it equalled the chances of becoming QB1 for Watson, Gabriel, and Sanders.

Injuries have plagued the former’s career. He has only played 19 games in four seasons in Cleveland. Currently, 30 years old, it may be his last shot to rekindle his NFL career. Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot also believes Watson to be a starter in 2026. Regardless, the HC has not made any decisions.

“I would love to have that. I’m not there yet,” said Todd Monken on The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima. “So, I can’t say that.”

The competition is still open for Sanders. His 1,400 passing yards and 7 touchdown passes in his rookie season helped him earn a Pro Bowl nod by hook or crook. Now, it remains to be seen whether he can maintain the same level of productivity during the summer training camp and solidify his position as a starter.