Cleveland Browns News

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told a group of local reporters at the league meetings this week that quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) has a "great chance" and a "fresh start" with new head coach Todd Monken, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. It comes a year after Haslam called the team's trade for Watson a "big swing-and-miss." The Browns gave the 30-year-old a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million deal back in March of 2022, and the three-time Pro Bowler has only played in 19 games for the team, completing just 61.2% of his passes for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Browns could add QB competition through the draft, but as of now, all signs are pointing to Watson having the edge over Shedeur Sanders for the starting job entering the 2026 season. Watson hasn't played in an NFL game since 2024 due to a torn Achilles that required multiple surgeries. His fantasy stock in dynasty leagues is on the rise, but nothing is set in stone, and the former first overall pick in 2017 out of Clemson has a lot to prove.

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Sunday that the team isn't trading All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier this week on the Pat McAfee Show that the Browns have been "adamant" that they aren't trying to move Garrett, who set the single-season NFL sack record in 2025 with 23 sacks in 17 starts, after modifying his contract to save some salary cap space. It would send a pretty bad message to Browns fans if they traded one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL the year after breaking the all-time sack record. The 30-year-old former first-rounder in 2017 out of Texas A&M will be back with the Browns this coming season to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks across the league. Garrett is a physical freak and a beast on the football field with 125.5 career sacks in his nine NFL seasons. Unsurprisingly, Garrett will come off the board fast as a defensive lineman in IDP fantasy leagues.

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said that he's hopeful that running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle) will be on the field "in some form or fashion" this spring, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Judkins suffered a dislocated right ankle late in his rookie season in 2025 and had surgery. The 22-year-old former second-rounder in 2025 out of Ohio State should be ready in time for training camp this summer and the start of the 2026 regular season. There is no doubt heading into his sophomore campaign that Judkins will lead Cleveland's backfield, which also consists of Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders. In his first NFL season, Judkins had 827 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 230 carries over 14 starts, adding 26 catches for 171 yards through the air. The only thing holding Judkins back from being a strong RB1 for fantasy managers might be the Browns' offense, which figures to be led by either Deshaun Watson (Achilles) or second-year QB Shedeur Sanders.

The NFL Network's Mike Garafolo thinks that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) is in the "pole position" to be the team's starter for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. Shedeur Sanders finished his rookie season as the Browns' starter under center, but he was very inconsistent down the stretch and has plenty to prove after dropping into the fifth round in the 2025 NFL draft. On the flip side, Watson, 30, missed all of last year while recovering from multiple surgeries to fix a torn Achilles tendon. Due to injury and suspension, the three-time Pro Bowler has played in just 19 games since he joined Cleveland in 2022. Watson will be competing with Sanders in training camp this summer, but there's still the possibility the Browns add another signal-caller in the draft or via trade/free agency. If Watson were to enter training camp fully healthy and win the starting job outright, he'd be a low-end QB2 with upside and plenty to prove to fantasy managers.

The Cleveland Browns are not expected to trade reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett this offseason, ESPN's Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show. When Schefter called the Browns due to rumors of a potential Garrett trade, they "said they're 100% not trading" Garrett. The Browns were "adamant" that they don't plan to trade the two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Cleveland just modified Garrett's contract, but it wasn't done with future intentions of trading him, but rather to give the team more salary cap flexibility. Schefter said that the Browns "couldn't have been stronger about it" in stating that they won't be moving one of the best pass-rushers in the game. It would really enrage the Browns' fan base if they traded Garrett, who set the single-season NFL sack record with 23. He's an elite IPD fantasy defensive lineman and has a whopping 125.5 sacks in the first nine years of his career.

The Cleveland Browns and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett agreed on Thursday to modify the language in his contract that became official on Tuesday, league sources told Field Yates of ESPN. Garrett's previous contract called for his option bonuses in 2026, 2027, and 2028 to be exercised by the 15th day of the league year. In the amended deal, the date has been pushed back to seven days before the regular season each year. Additionally, Garrett had $8 million of his base salary in 2029 and 2030 moved into roster bonuses early in each league year. The Browns now have more flexibility to create salary cap space each year, while Garrett benefits from the modified option payments. The 30-year-old All-Pro pass-rusher agreed to a four-year extension with the Browns in March of last year before setting the league's single-season sack record with 23. It's the second time that Garrett has won Defensive Player of the Year, also taking home the honors in 2023, when he led the NFL with 33 tackles for loss. Needless to say, he'll be an elite edge rusher for fantasy managers in IDP formats again in 2026.

The Cleveland Browns re-signed tight end Blake Whiteheart to an undisclosed deal on Monday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. The deal is most likely for just one season, bringing Whiteheart back for his third year in Cleveland. The 26-year-old has not been on the fantasy football radar in his three seasons in the NFL, catching just eight of 15 targets for 55 yards and one touchdown in 30 games (six starts). He went undrafted out of Wake Forest before debuting in the NFL in 2023 with the Arizona Cardinals. Whiteheart had a career-high six catches for 51 yards and his only touchdown in 11 games (two starts) in his first year in Cleveland in 2024. He will return to block on offense while also contributing on special teams. David Njoku isn't going to return in free agency, but Harold Fannin Jr. will be the Browns' unquestioned top pass-catching TE in 2026 after his impressive rookie campaign.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders finished the 2025 season as the team's starter, but that doesn't mean his job is guaranteed for 2026. Sanders is expected to face competition at the quarterback position as Deshaun Watson (Achilles) rejoins the offense. Watson hasn't played since Week 7 of the 2024 season, but he's expected to compete with Sanders for the starting role during training camp. On one hand, the Browns' lofty investment of multiple first-round picks in Watson would presumably give him an advantage in the competition. On the other hand, he's coming off an injury, hasn't played in a season and a half, and didn't play particularly well even when he was healthy. Sanders didn't have a great rookie season by any means, either, posting a measly 56.6% completion rate with just seven passing touchdowns and 11 turnovers. This will be a very interesting position battle to monitor, and Sanders will have to deliver a strong summer to win the job over Watson.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman has been an appealing long-term dynasty option ever since being drafted in 2023, but given that he still hasn't broken out, managers are starting to lose patience. Tillman had plenty of opportunities to produce when healthy last year, filling the undisputed No. 2 role behind Jerry Jeudy. The quarterback play admittedly wasn't great, but Tillman's overall volume and production were still disappointing, all things considered. He ultimately played in 13 games last year, catching 21 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Across three years in the league, he has ranked as the WR118, WR90, and WR98. Tillman is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and could be worth dropping in dynasty leagues, especially as managers are forced to make tough roster crunch decisions with rookie drafts approaching.

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle) quickly established himself as a workhorse in his rookie campaign in 2025, racking up 998 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 256 touches across 14 games. Judkins' season came to a premature end after he suffered a gruesome dislocated ankle and fractured fibula in Week 16. However, the 22-year-old is already out of his walking boot and is expected to be full-go by training camp. Barring a draft-day addition, Judkins looks like the clear RB1 in Cleveland heading into 2026. The Browns' unsettled quarterback situation means the ecosystem around Judkins in Cleveland will be less than ideal. Still, Judkins profiles as one of the lone playmakers at new head coach Todd Monken's disposal. If he can stay healthy, Judkins could easily surpass the 18.3 touches per game he averaged as a rookie in 2025. Judkins profiles as a borderline dynasty RB1 heading into his second NFL season.

The Cleveland Browns agreed to terms on an undisclosed deal with former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Tylan Wallace on Wednesday, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. The 26-year-old will reunite with new Browns head coach Todd Monken, who was previously the Ravens' offensive coordinator. Wallace was a fourth-round pick by Baltimore in 2021 out of Oklahoma State. He carved out a special teams role with the organization in his first five years in the NFL but was rarely heard from on offense, totaling just 22 receptions on 35 targets for 305 yards and two touchdowns in 68 total regular-season games (three starts). Wallace will likely continue to primarily be an option for the Browns as a kick returner, so he'll remain off the fantasy radar in 2026. His best season came in 2024, when he caught 11 of 12 targets for 193 yards and one touchdown in 17 games on offense.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond should be a top-three wideout for the team as he heads into his second year in the NFL, behind Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman. The 22-year-old pass-catcher from the University of Texas averaged a healthy 18.8 yards per catch in his first 16 NFL games (two starts) in 2025, although he finished with only 18 catches for 338 yards on 44 targets. Bond displayed his big-play abilities, primarily late in the year after fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders was named the starter under center. He has some intriguing long-term fantasy upside because of his big-play ability, but he'll probably go undrafted in 12-team fantasy leagues this fall as the Browns continue to rebuild their offense, which finished 2025 with the second-fewest points per game (16.4), ahead of only the Las Vegas Raiders. Bond averaged just 1.1 catches per game last year, so that number will need to come up for fantasy managers in shallow redraft leagues to consider him off the waiver wire in 2026.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) hasn't played a snap since the middle of the 2024 season, but it appears that he could get back on the fantasy football radar soon. Watson should be healthy (or at least near full health) ahead of the 2026 campaign, giving him a real chance to win the Browns' starting quarterback job. Not only does Watson have the best career stats among the Browns' quarterback room, but he also comes with the largest investment. Cleveland flipped three first-round picks for Watson, whereas Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders were merely Day 2 or 3 selections. Neither Gabriel nor Sanders, both of whom started games in 2025, put together very encouraging stat lines. Watson wasn't great when he last played, either, going 1-6 with 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. However, his experience, track record, and investment likely make him the favorite to start at quarterback in Week 1, if he's healthy. With a talented, young group of skill players around him -- plus an improved offensive line in front of him -- Watson could sneakily become a fantasy option in deeper leagues. At worst, he has top-24 upside at the quarterback position in 2026.

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson was much more effective as a pass-catcher than as a traditional RB in his first year in the NFL in 2025. Sampson played in 15 games (two starts) and had 175 carries and no touchdowns on 65 rushing attempts (2.7 yards per carry). As a pass-catcher, he caught 33 of 40 targets for 271 yards and two touchdowns. The 21-year-old fourth-round selection out of the University of Tennessee figures to have a similar role in 2026 as a pass-catching specialist behind starter Quinshon Judkins. Sampson should have a slightly bigger role as well with Jerome Ford out of town, but in a Browns offense that could once again struggle given their less-than-ideal situation at quarterback, Sampson will mostly be a late-round handcuff option for Judkins' managers in single-year PPR leagues. Sampson is a bit more attractive in dynasty/keeper leagues as a hold for depth purposes.

Across 17 games in 2025, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy recorded just 50 receptions for 602 yards and two touchdowns on 106 targets. With a catch rate of under 50%, Jeudy was one of the least efficient high-target wideouts in the NFL. His struggles were not entirely his fault, as Cleveland rotated through a cast of underwhelming starting quarterbacks in Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders. Still, Jeudy's 2025 production was a stark decline from his Pro-Bowl 2024 output, when he hauled in 90 receptions for over 1,200 yards. Heading into 2026, there's no guarantee that the quarterback situation in Cleveland will be improved. Barring a draft-day addition, Sanders and Gabriel appear poised to compete for the starting job in training camp. On a more positive note, Jeudy should not face much internal competition for targets outside of young tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Still, Jeudy's dynasty value is trending in the wrong direction after his disappointing 2025.

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has officially taken over as the team's No. 1 tight end ahead of the 2026 season. This was inevitable with David Njoku essentially vowing he'd depart this offseason, but now that free agency has started, it's official. There are no signs of Njoku wanting to come back, and the Browns haven't brought in any significant players to replace him. As a result, Fannin is entrenched atop the depth chart after a spectacular rookie season. In his first taste of NFL action in 2025, he caught 72 of 107 targets for 731 yards and six touchdowns, ranking as the overall TE6 in full-PPR leagues. He managed to put together a very productive season despite facing competition from Njoku and catching passes from an uninspiring quarterback room. Now that he has proven that he can produce amid adversity, he'll have an even more favorable outlook as the Browns' clear-cut No. 1 tight end. Plus, quarterback Shedeur Sanders should play at least a little better in his second pro season, giving Fannin increased stability week over week. The buy-low window on Fannin has closed in dynasty leagues, but given that he's just 21 years old, managers can still consider trading for him at full price. He appears to have a long, successful career ahead of him, full of rich fantasy upside.

The Cleveland Browns officially released tight end David Njoku and right guard Wyatt Teller with post-June 1 designations on Thursday, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. The Browns will break Njoku's dead salary cap into $9.5 million in 2026 and $14.7 million in 2027 while getting a bit of cap relief after June 1. Njoku's fantasy value in 2025 tanked with the quick emergence of rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr., who surprisingly led the team in receiving in his first year in the NFL. The 29-year-old Njoku's opportunities shrank, and he also missed some time late in the year with a knee injury. He finished with 33 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets over 12 games. Njoku's 293 yards were his fewest since 2020. Now healthy, Njoku will seek employment elsewhere in 2026 and could bounce back as a low-end TE1 option in fantasy if he lands in the right situation.

The Cleveland Browns agreed with free-agent tight end Jack Stoll on an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The former Philadelphia Eagles undrafted free agent will head to the AFC North after spending a year with the New Orleans Saints in 2025. The 28-year-old Nebraska product played the first three years of his NFL career in Philly, catching 20 of his 27 targets for 183 yards and no touchdowns in 50 games (26 starts). Last year with New Orleans, Stoll played in 15 games (four starts) and caught just six of 11 targets for 46 yards and the first touchdown of his career. He finished the year on Injured Reserve due to a knee injury, but he should be a full-go for the start of the 2026 campaign later this year. In Cleveland, Stoll will provide depth behind Harold Fannin Jr., who quickly took over as the Browns' top pass-catching TE in his first year in the league. Stoll can be ignored in all fantasy formats with his move to Cleveland.

The Cleveland Browns have signed center Elgton Jenkins to a two-year contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The 30-year-old is a former second-round pick and two-time Pro Bowler who spent each of his first seven NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He has experience across various spots on the offensive line but will presumably slot in as the Browns' starting center, replacing free agent Ethan Pocic. Jenkins has started every game in which he has played since 2020, but injuries limited him to a modest nine contests in 2025. The Browns will hope that he can stay healthier in 2026 to provide more consistency along an offensive line that struggled last season. Cleveland's unit finished second-worst among 32 teams in PFF's end-of-year offensive line rankings.

The Cleveland Browns restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson's contract on Friday to ease his $80.716 million salary cap charge in 2026, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Browns are converting up to $44.745 million of his $46 million base salary into a signing bonus, leaving him with the veteran minimum of $1.255 million for this year. The move is expected to free up around $36 million in cap space. Cleveland is also expected to restructure the contracts of other players, including Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward. The 30-year-old Watson is heading into the final year of the five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract that he signed back in 2022. Watson did not play at all in 2025 after having two surgeries to fix a torn Achilles he suffered in 2024. He's expected to compete for the starting QB job in 2026 with Shedeur Sanders, but the Browns are expected to bring in more competition via free agency. There's no guarantee Watson ever takes another snap with the Browns.