Cleveland Browns 2025 Season Preview
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Ron Schwane/AP Photo)
The Cleveland Browns have put themselves in a terrible situation with poor salary management and roster construction. The contract given to Deshaun Watson has hobbled their ability to compete. In an already weak draft class at the quarterback position, the Browns won one too many games to snag a quarterback with the first overall pick. They had to bring in economic options to fill in the gaps of the roster as best as they could.
Departures: Among players that made a legitimate impact for Cleveland, they parted ways with RB Nick Chubb, QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB Jameis Winston, WR Elijah Moore, OT Hakeem Adeniji, OT James Hudson, OT Jedrick Wills, DL Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Jordan Hicks, SAF Rodney McLeod, and SAF Juan Thornill. On top of all these departures, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is out for the 2025 season with a neck injury.
Additions: The offseason started for the Cleveland Browns with a Myles Garrett trade request. However, the team was able to negotiate and extend Garrett to a 4-year $160M deal. Cleveland also traded for Eagles’ backup QB Kenny Pickett to get another arm in the room. The Browns signed DT Maliek Collins and OT Cornelius Lucas to multi-year contracts. They also brought in LB Devin Bush, EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and OG Teven Jenkins on one-year deals.
Draft Selections: The Cleveland Browns had an interesting draft with plenty of surprising picks. With the 5th overall pick they selected Michigan DT Mason Graham. Graham will form an amazing duo on the defensive front with Myles Garrett. On Day 2 they took LB Carson Schwessinger, RB Quinshon Judkins, TE Harold Fannin Jr., and QB Dillon Gabriel. Despite taking both Judkins and Gabriel, they attacked those positions again on Day 3 by taking RB Dylan Sampson and QB Shedeur Sanders.
The Browns will certainly be in another rebuilding year. They will not be looked at as competitive, but they can take steps in the right direction. They can potentially boast an improved running game and a promising young quarterback. Combine that with a defense with stars in valuable spots and you have a team that won’t roll over against anyone.
Season Predictions: Cleveland hosts the Bengals to start the season, then go on the road to face the Ravens, back home against the Packers, and then end the month of September on the road against the Lions. The Browns will start the season 0-4.
They start October in London against the Vikings, the team then immediately comes back to play the Steelers in Pittsburgh, the Dolphins in the Dawg Pound, and then the Patriots in Foxborough. Cleveland will get their first win of the season in October to improve to 1-7.
The Browns have a Week 9 bye and return to play the Jets on the road. They return to Cleveland to host the Ravens, play the Raiders in Vegas, and end the month at home against the 49ers. The Browns go 1-3 in this span.
The final stretch of the season sees the Browns host the Titans, play the Bears on the road, play two games in a row at home against the Bills and Steelers, and close the season on the road against the Bengals.
Conclusion: I have the Cleveland Browns ending the 2025 season with a record of 3-14. This could be enough to get the 1st overall pick. If none of the young quarterbacks pan out this year, they may be tempted to use that draft pick on a quarterback in the 2026 class. While their record may be abysmal, look for the Browns to keep most of their games rather competitive.
