Honestly, trying to figure out the Cleveland Browns depth chart right now feels a bit like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube in the dark. You've got superstar records being shattered on one side and a complete "who’s who" of questions at quarterback on the other.
It’s messy. It’s exciting. And if you’re a Browns fan, it’s probably giving you a headache.
As of January 2026, the team is sitting at a massive crossroads. The 2025 season just wrapped up, and while certain positions are locked down by generational talents, others are essentially a blank whiteboard. We need to talk about the Shedeur Sanders situation, Myles Garrett's historic run, and why the backfield looks nothing like the Nick Chubb era we all grew up with.
The QB Room: Is it Shedeur’s Team Now?
Let’s not beat around the bush. The biggest question mark on the Cleveland Browns depth chart is under center.
Entering the 2026 offseason, Shedeur Sanders is technically the guy at the top. He finished the 2025 season as the starter, and honestly, the Browns want to see if he can be the long-term answer. But he’s not exactly undisputed. Dillon Gabriel is right there, though a shoulder injury late in the '25 season slowed his momentum.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: Deshaun Watson.
Watson is still on the roster because of that massive contract, but he spent the end of the year on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list with an Achilles injury. Most experts, like those over at 247 Sports, think he’s essentially a backup at this point. The Browns are likely looking at the 2026 NFL Draft for more help, especially with Oregon’s Dante Moore deciding to stay in school, which really thinned out the top-tier options.
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- QB1: Shedeur Sanders
- QB2: Dillon Gabriel (Recovery pending)
- The Contractual Reality: Deshaun Watson
Myles Garrett and a Defense That Actually Scares People
While the offense is a work in progress, the defensive side of the Cleveland Browns depth chart is where the "Expert" label actually applies.
Myles Garrett didn’t just play well in 2025; he broke the NFL. He finished with 23 sacks. Read that again. Twenty-three. He’s 30 years old now and signed through 2030, which is basically the best news Cleveland has had in a decade. He is the anchor, the sail, and the engine of this defense.
But Garrett isn't a one-man show anymore. Mason Graham has turned into a beast at defensive tackle, and Carson Schwesinger is the name you need to learn. He’s the likely Defensive Rookie of the Year and has taken over the middle of the field.
The linebacker situation is a bit sad, though. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK) is dealing with a serious neck injury. There’s a very real chance he might not play again, which is a gut-punch for a guy who was the heart of that unit. If JOK can’t go, expect the Browns to lean heavily on Devin Bush and Jerome Baker to fill that void in 2026.
The Defensive Front
On the edges, Alex Wright has finally hit his stride, recording career highs last year. He’s solidified himself as the starter opposite Garrett. Behind them, Isaiah McGuire is a solid rotational piece, but the team will probably look for another cheap veteran or a late-round draft pick to keep that rotation fresh.
Life After Nick Chubb: The New Backfield
It’s weird seeing a Browns roster without Nick Chubb as the focal point. Chubb is a free agent and coming off back-to-back years ended by injury. It’s the end of an era.
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The new face of the running back room is Quinshon Judkins.
He’s the future. Even though he had a leg injury late in the year, he’s expected to be 100% for the 2026 season. He’s got that "bell cow" potential that Andrew Berry loves. Behind him, you’ve got Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders.
The depth here is actually decent, but it lacks that veteran "bruiser" feel. Jerome Ford is a name that’s been around, but many expect the Browns to move on from him this offseason to save some cap space and roster room for younger talent.
Tight End Chaos and the Offensive Line
If you looked at the tight end depth chart in December, you probably saw a lot of names you didn't recognize. David Njoku and the rookie standout Harold Fannin Jr. both ended the year banged up.
Fannin Jr. has been a revelation. He’s basically the success story of the 2025 draft for Cleveland. When he’s healthy, he and Njoku are a terrifying duo, but the team had to resort to calling up guys like Blake Whiteheart and Cade Prieskorn just to finish the season.
The Trenches:
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- Left Tackle: Cam Robinson (Likely leaving in free agency)
- Left Guard: Joel Bitonio (The veteran leader who just keeps going)
- Center: Luke Wypler (Needs to recover from a knee injury)
- Right Guard: Wyatt Teller (Still a force, but coming off a calf injury)
- Right Tackle: Dawand Jones or Jack Conklin (Conklin’s health is always the "if")
The offensive line is old. That's the blunt truth. Bitonio and Teller aren't getting younger, and the Browns are likely going to use a high 2026 draft pick on a tackle.
What to Watch This Offseason
The Cleveland Browns depth chart isn't a finished product; it's a living document. The front office has a few specific moves they basically have to make before training camp starts.
First, they have to decide if they are actually riding with Shedeur Sanders or if they’re going to trade up for a guy like Fernando Mendoza. If they stay at the 6th overall pick, they might be out of range for a "sure thing" QB.
Second, the secondary needs a health check. Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson are elite, but Ward’s neck injury is a recurring nightmare for the coaching staff. If they can't stay on the field, it doesn't matter how many sacks Myles Garrett gets.
Actionable Next Steps for 2026:
- Monitor the 2026 NFL Draft: Watch the QB rankings. If the Browns don't move for a passer early, it’s the Shedeur Sanders show for at least another year.
- Check the Injury Reports: Keep an eye on JOK and Denzel Ward. Their availability changes the entire scheme of Jim Schwartz’s defense.
- Look for the O-Line Refresh: Expect at least one new starter on the offensive line via free agency or the first two rounds of the draft.
The Browns have the elite pieces. They have the "once-in-a-generation" edge rusher and a blossoming star at tight end. Now, it’s just about whether the most important position on the field—the quarterback—can finally stop being a question mark.