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2026 Cleveland Browns Predictions with Best Bets and Odds to Win the Super Bowl

by Spencer Toth - 8/7/2026

Cleveland Browns predictions Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns have been one of the worst franchises in the NFL for decades, and there isn’t much hope that this will be the season they turn things around. They moved on from franchise cornerstone Myles Garrett, their quarterback room is a complete disaster, and the always tough AFC North is not an easy division to win. However, anything can happen in the NFL, and some early momentum for Cleveland could have this fanbase believing once again. 

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Cleveland Browns Offseason Recap

The big storylines in Cleveland over the offseason have been what they will do at quarterback and how they will survive without Myles Garrett. The Browns traded Garrett for several draft picks and standout player Jared Verse. Garrett posted a double-digit sack total in eight straight seasons in Cleveland, taking things to new heights in 2025. Even though the Browns were often trailing, Garrett continued to find ways to get to the quarterback with a record-breaking 23 sacks. His incredible impact secured him his second Defensive Player of the Year award in the last three years. 

While Verse is an obvious downgrade compared to Garrett, he is a promising passrusher that could be the face of the next generation. He won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2024, and followed it up with another strong season last year. If Verse has a strong first season in Cleveland, Garrett’s departure will sting far less. 

The Browns also shored up their offensive line, trading for Tytus Howard while picking up both Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins. Three new starters for the Browns' pass protection should help improve their 31st-ranked line from last season. They aren’t the cream of the crop in terms of talent, but they will still prove to be a massive upgrade compared to last year. In the draft, they ate their meat and vegetables with an offensive lineman at ninth overall, taking Spencer Fano, who is expected to slot right into left tackle. 

On the sidelines, the Browns underwent a major overhaul with a new head coach and new arrivals for all three coordinator positions. Todd Monken, the former Ravens offensive coordinator, was given the reins to this team for his first career head coaching position. Monken spent some time in Cleveland back in 2020 as the offensive coordinator, and has a very direct approach. He falls into the traditional coaching category with an aggressive and detail-oriented approach, and the Browns organization will be hoping he can bring them back into contention. He is bringing Travis Switzer with him from Baltimore to be his offensive coordinator, while former Falcons pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg will be in charge of leading the defense. 

2026 Cleveland Browns Season Expectations

The Browns' season expectations will be limited at best, as they still have serious questions at quarterback and just lost the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett. However, it is not all bad news, as the Browns should still have a solid defense if the rest of their roster continues to develop. 

Jared Verse will be the most reliable household name on defense, but this team could reach new defensive heights if Carson Schwesinger continues his trajectory towards superstardom. Schwesinger won Defensive Rookie of the Year last season and is far more valuable than his rookie contract implies. Developing draft talent is crucial for sustained success in the NFL, and Schwesinger could end up being the next great linebacker. 

Now for the elephant in the room. The battle at quarterback. Deshaun Watson has been a complete and utter disappointment since the Browns gave up a mountain of draft capital for him in 2022. Not only has Watson had his fair share of off-field issues that have kept him on the sidelines, but he also dealt with injuries, and even when healthy, he has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. He has yet to surpass 1,200 passing yards in any single season with the Browns, with a combined 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions over the last three years. He has led the Browns to a respectable 9-10 record across his 19 starts, but it is far from the form the three-time Pro Bowler had in Houston. 

The Browns' other option at quarterback is Shedeur Sanders. The son of legend Deion Sanders, the University of Colorado product was expected to be scooped up late in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. That was not the case, as Sanders slid all the way to the fifth round before Cleveland mercifully ended his disappointing drop. Attitude issues certainly had a role to play, but as he matures, the fifth-round selection could prove to be quite the steal. Sanders is the more explosive leader and has a bright future in the league, but his game is still very rough around the edges. His decision-making needs work, and it is starting to look as though Watson will be given the Week 1 start. However, it is still very up in the air with Watson having -150 odds to start and Sanders bouncing back at +120. 

The rest of the Browns skill position group is a mixed bag of talent, with Jerry Jeudy emerging as a legitimate top receiver. Jeudy hasn’t had a reliable quarterback to work with over his four-year tenure with the Broncos or his two years in Cleveland, but has still managed to put up consistent numbers. At running back, a duo of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson will keep the ball safe, as Sampson looks to be the man of the future. His explosive speed combined with stellar vision allows him to find gaps and create big plays out of the backfield. 

2026 Cleveland Browns Schedule Breakdown 

There isn’t a lot to get excited about on the field, but in terms of scheduling, there is hope for Cleveland. The Browns have the easiest schedule in the league based on last year’s winning percentages, and the fourth-easiest based on the 2026 projected win totals. The AFC North is always a battleground, but the rest of the schedule is very manageable. The NFC South is a complete disaster like usual, while the AFC South has four unproven teams. It doesn’t get much easier than their three bonus games against the Jets, Raiders, and Giants for finishing last in the division, rounding out a favorable slate of 2026 matchups. 

2026 Cleveland Browns Betting Odds

The Browns have a win total of 5.5 wins with -130 odds on the over, which is the third-lowest total in the league. They haven’t cleared that total in either of the last two seasons, but did scrape together six or more victories in the six straight seasons prior. Looking at the end-of-season standings, Cleveland has +2000 odds to win the AFC North, and +600 odds to play postseason football. At the bottom, the Browns have +400 odds to finish with the worst record in the league, edging out the Cardinals and Titans in the basement. 

2026 Cleveland Browns Season Predictions and Best Bets

The Cleveland Browns are expected to be terrible, but a soft schedule gives them reason for optimism. Other teams will also have the Browns circled on the schedule as a winnable matchup, but the reality is that Cleveland has at least nine matchups where they should have close to 50/50 odds to win. Inconsistency at quarterback could certainly be their downfall, but I still can’t take the under at this line. The Browns have been far from the best team in the league, but a strong defense has kept them competitive, and they have quietly been flirting with a .500 record each season. Three new coordinators and a sophomore quarterback will still have plenty to prove, and even if the Browns are eliminated, they will still keep fighting for wins. With a rock-bottom win total, taking the over is the way to go. 

In terms of a different pick with longer odds, there isn’t much to get excited about on the board. Cleveland doesn’t have any potential MVP or award candidates, and they are incredibly unlikely to make the playoffs. 

Top Pick: Cleveland Browns Over 5.5 Wins -130

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