Now that the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition has reached its conclusion, more attention can be paid to the rest of the team. Unfortunately, fans might not be encouraged by what they discover there, either.
The Browns do have potential top-end players at multiple positions, with edge rusher Jared Verse, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, tight end Harold Fannin Jr., and rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. But they are just one injury away from a dire situation for many of them.
Until the Browns add more talented depth, they are unlikely to become playoff contenders. That will take some time, even if they are able to find a franchise QB in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Analyst Ken Carman recently revealed major concerns about the Browns’ roster, saying they are still a couple of years from having a legitimate team.
“It’s not just the quarterback. You’re a quarterback and two drafts away from really competing. I’m not just talking about offensive line. I am three players away from having nothing in the secondary. I got Grant Delpit, Denzel Ward, and Tyson Campbell. If any one of those three go down, I’m bleeped. I got Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams. If any one of those guys go down, we all know the real answer. Alex Wright went down. They were already in the market for edge rushers. We have one tight end that we can count on. We’re not in a good spot. There’s so many more reasons of why this season, nobody’s gonna be able to fix this thing,” Carman said.
"It's not just the QB…there's so many more reasons of why this season, nobody's gonna be able to fix this thing."
➡️ @KenCarman to @SportsBoyTony on why he's not advocating for another veteran QB option for the #Browns https://t.co/KUyjXkrX23 pic.twitter.com/LHw5eSmX0b
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 26, 2026
The Browns rebuilt their offensive line this offseason, but did so with veterans who were not kept by their former teams. Spencer Fano, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is the only rookie among them, and he may turn out to be the cornerstone left tackle of the future. Later-round picks Austin Barber and Parker Brailsford might be starters someday, but the Browns will still need multiple players either alongside or behind them down the road.
Entering this offseason, it was thought that the Browns could trade veteran safety Delpit and cornerback Ward, but they instead signed each of them to contract extensions. However, the depth behind them is almost non-existent, and Cleveland could lose starting safety Ronnie Hickman as a free agent this offseason, though rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a potential replacement.
On defense, the Browns are already down to one established defensive end after Wright tore his Achilles last week and is out for the season. In the interior, they have been dealing with injuries throughout training camp and have to hope that veteran Maliek Collins can contribute after recently coming off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
It’s a potential house of cards, which could turn out to mean that it doesn’t even matter if Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders is the starting QB.
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