NFL Analyst Thinks That the Cleveland Browns Will Win Less Than Five Games In 2026

The Cleveland Browns finished with a 5-12 record last season. It seems like they are in quarterback purgatory every single season. Cleveland decided to name quarterback Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback on Monday. This set the entire fanbase off that he is the starter over Shedeur Sanders.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – AUGUST 22: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field after the team’s 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in a preseason game against the at Huntington Bank Field on August 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Many fans were cursing out owner Jimmy Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry, head coach Todd Monken, and many other people as well. Fans in downtown Cleveland, Ohio were posting signs all over the place about their displeasure of Watson being named the starting quarterback. If he is still the starter when the Browns have the home opener in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers, the boos will be so loud, or the entire stadium is going to be empty. It feels like another lost season for Cleveland ahead.

NFL Analyst Thinks That the Cleveland Browns Will Win Less Than Five Games in 2026

BEREA, OHIO – FEBRUARY 03: Todd Monken talks with the media after being introduced as head coach of the Cleveland Browns during a press conference at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on February 03, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

The projected win total for the Browns this season is 5.3. The verdict for this is that this is probably too high for Cleveland. Zac Jackson of the Athletic said,

“For the Browns, 2026 is all about continuing to develop and evaluate a talented young corps. The quarterback play will almost certainly be dreadful, and the brand-new offensive line will need time to catch up. There’s little proven depth at any spot and six of the first nine games are on the road. The defense is still strong, but the focus is rightly on the future and the real goal should be a top-three draft pick.”

If they do land a top three draft pick, Monken should be one-and-done as head coach and Berry should also be fired as general manager. This would mean that the Browns could potentially land either quarterback Arch Manning from the Texas Longhorns or Dante Moore from the Oregon Ducks. The question is would either of them want to play for Cleveland? That is something that remains to be seen here. A lot of Browns fans feel hopeless for this season and maybe beyond also.