Training camp is ramping up for the Cleveland Browns as the franchise prepares for coach Todd Monken’s first season at the helm. Cleveland looks dramatically different from a year ago, with a revamped offensive line, a quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, and life without Myles Garrett for the first time in nearly a decade after the Browns traded him to the Los Angeles Rams. With all that change on the roster, here are three predictions for how the 2026 season could play out.

Shedeur Sanders finishes with more passing touchdowns than Deshaun Watson despite not being initial starter

Watson may win the starting job and open the season as the Browns’ quarterback. But if the past has shown us anything, that’s not going to last. Watson is entering his fifth season in Cleveland and has never played in more than seven games during that stretch. Time has consistently shown that Watson cannot be counted on for a full season, let alone half of one.

Whether it’s through poor play or availability issues, there’s a good chance Sanders ends up seeing more time under center. Sanders showed the ability to create explosive plays last season when he threw seven touchdown passes in seven starts. He’s going to push the ball downfield more than Watson, and he’s going to put the ball in harm’s way more often too.

Going with the youth over the veteran who is in the last year of his contract makes a lot of sense for Cleveland if the two are close in terms of their level of play. Sanders, in the end, is going to have a better season for the Browns than Watson.

A rookie receiver reaches 1,000 yards

The Browns drafted wide receiver KC Concepcion in the first round and Denzel Boston in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Both players have the ceiling to be 1,000-yard receivers in the NFL, and they should be key parts of the passing game as soon as this season.

Concepcion is the type of player Cleveland can get the ball to in space and let him work with his blazing speed that can break defenses. Boston is more of a big target who wins downfield with contested catches, and he’s been a standout through OTAs. That momentum could carry right into training camp.

On paper, Jerry Jeudy is the Browns’ top receiver right now. By the end of the year, though, Cleveland could be thrilled with its rookie wideouts, including at least one who passes the 1,000-yard mark across 17 games.

Jared Verse posts a career year with at least 12 sacks

The Browns are losing a ton of production with Garrett now off the roster following his 23-sack season a year ago. Verse had 4.5 sacks as a rookie, 7.5 sacks last season, and he’s primed to take another leap into double-digit sack territory in 2026.

With the defensive line Cleveland has attacking up front, Verse could be the leader in the clubhouse in sacks. He should be motivated after being traded away from the Rams, even if it was for a player like Garrett. Verse wasn’t necessarily a player who needed a fresh start, but sometimes fresh starts can get more out of you. That’s what I think happens here, and he has his best year yet.

Time will tell how these predictions play out, but the Browns have enough new pieces to make this a season worth watching closely.