The air in Northeast Ohio is cold, but the seats at 76 Lou Groza Boulevard are currently a whole lot hotter.
If you've been following the Cleveland Browns football news over the last week, you know the vibe has shifted from "frustrating season" to "total structural overhaul." On January 5, 2026, the team officially pulled the plug on the Kevin Stefanski era. It’s a move that feels both inevitable and jarring. Stefanski brought this city two Coach of the Year awards and some of the best football we've seen since the 90s, but a 5-12 finish in 2025 was the final straw.
Now? We’re looking at a franchise trying to figure out how to be a "grown-up" team again while carrying the heaviest financial anchor in NFL history.
The Coaching Search: Who Actually Wants This Job?
Andrew Berry is staying. That’s the first bit of stability, for better or worse. He’s the one leading the charge to find Stefanski’s replacement, and the names being tossed around right now are heavy hitters. Honestly, it’s a weirdly attractive job if you can ignore the cap space.
The Browns have a "young core" that actually looks promising. You have Carson Schwesinger, who is basically a lock for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Shedeur Sanders, who showed real flashes of being the guy toward the end of the season.
Rumors are flying that the Browns are looking at:
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- Dan Pitcher: The Bengals OC already interviewed on January 9.
- Mike McDaniel: If he shakes loose from Miami, Cleveland is expected to pounce.
- The Veterans: Names like Mike McCarthy and even John Harbaugh (who recently left Baltimore) are being whispered by insiders like Andrew Siciliano.
It’s a bizarre situation. You’re inheriting a defense that plays at an elite level but an offense that ranked dead last in PFF pass-blocking. The next coach has to be someone who can handle the "quarterback circus" that has defined this team for years.
The $80 Million Problem Named Deshaun Watson
We have to talk about the contract. There’s no way around it.
Deshaun Watson is scheduled to hit the Browns' salary cap for $80,716,514 in 2026. That isn't just a high number; it’s the largest single-season cap hit in the history of the league. Because of how the deal was structured and restructured, cutting him would trigger $131 million in dead money.
Basically, he’s not going anywhere.
Watson is currently rehabbing his second Achilles tear in two years. He actually started practicing again in December, but the team kept him on the sidelines to let Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel take the reps. The most likely scenario for 2026? Watson stays on the roster as an incredibly expensive backup or "bridge" while the team continues to develop Sanders.
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It’s a "swing and miss," as Jimmy Haslam famously put it, but it’s a miss the team is still paying for—literally.
Draft Strategy: Pick No. 6 and the Offensive Line Crisis
The Browns locked in the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They also have an extra first-rounder from previous dealings, giving them some serious ammo.
The priority list is clear:
- Offensive Line: With Joel Bitonio potentially facing retirement and the unit ranking last in pass protection, they need a "mauler." PFF and Mel Kiper are both pointing toward Francis Mauigoa, a right tackle who could easily slide inside to guard.
- Wide Receiver: Jerry Jeudy and the rest of the room didn't have a single player earn a PFF grade above 60.0 last year. Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson or Ohio State’s Carnell Tate are the names to watch.
The defense is fine. Myles Garrett is still Myles Garrett. But if the Browns don't fix the trenches, it won't matter if they have Shedeur Sanders or prime Bernie Kosar under center.
Free Agency and the Cap Crunch
Don't let the $80 million Watson hit fool you—Andrew Berry is a wizard with the "cap space" button. While the team is technically projected to be $27 million over the cap once rookies sign, they can clear a massive amount of room by converting base salaries to signing bonuses for guys like Denzel Ward.
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The real challenge is the "void years." Players like David Njoku and Wyatt Teller have contracts that will void soon, leaving dead money behind. To keep the window open, the Browns might have to extend these veterans just to spread out the hits.
It’s a "kick the can down the road" strategy, but when you have a young QB like Sanders on a rookie deal, that's the only way to build a competitive roster around him.
What Happens Next?
The next few weeks are going to be a whirlwind of interviews and "leaked" reports. If you're looking for actionable ways to keep up with the Cleveland Browns football news, here is what you should be watching:
- Monitor the Head Coach Interviews: The first "second interview" will tell us everything about the direction Andrew Berry wants to take. If they go with an offensive mind like Dan Pitcher, it's all about Shedeur Sanders' development.
- Watch the Salary Cap Moves: Keep an eye on Denzel Ward’s contract. Once that restructure happens, it’s a sign that the Browns are gearing up for a splash in free agency—possibly a veteran offensive lineman like Tyler Linderbaum.
- The Senior Bowl and Combine: Since the Browns have two first-rounders, pay close attention to the offensive tackle rankings. If Mauigoa stays in the top 5, the Browns might have to trade up or pivot to a receiver like Jordyn Tyson at No. 6.
This isn't a "rebuild" in the traditional sense; it's more of a "forced evolution." The talent is there on defense, and the young quarterback shows promise. Now, they just need a leader who can navigate the most expensive mess in NFL history.