Cleveland Browns' Biggest Team Needs and Trade Targets Entering the 2026 NFL Season

The Cleveland Browns enter the 2026 NFL season with more questions than answers.

Todd Monken is entering his first year as a head coach. They have a desperate need at quarterback and the passer of the future might not even be on the roster.

The defense will attempt to move forward without one of the league's best players in Myles Garrett.

The new campaign will be about finding out the answers to these questions. That doesn't mean they won't be looking to improve the roster, though. That's still Andrew Berry's primary job.

Here, we'll take a look at the team's biggest needs and the trade targets who could address them.

Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green.

The Deshaun Watson era has brought nothing but woe to the Cleveland Browns. Yet, the franchise is set to give him another shot. It should be his last. The fact that he was named the starter doesn't speak very highly of Monken's evaluation of Sanders, either. Ultimately, the solution at quarterback doesn't appear to be on the roster at this point.

The answer might not be on the roster, but the Browns don't seem likely to find one on the trade block either. They kept four quarterbacks going into the season with Gabriel going to the injured reserve to start the year.

However, Kyler Murray's emergence as Minnesota's starter raises questions about J.J. McCarthy's future with the Vikings. Mac Jones may have played his way into another opportunity to compete for a starting job after serving as Brock Purdy's backup.

The Eagles added Andy Dalton in the offseason and also drafted Cole Payton in the fifth round. They might be willing to part with intriguing backup Tanner McKee.

Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Myles Harden, Noah Igbinoghene, Mekhi Blackmon, Toriano Pride Jr.

Ward showed he can still be a shutdown corner heading into his age-29 season. But he's also never played a full season in his career. Tyson Campbell played well after being traded to Cleveland last season, but he gave up 22 touchdowns in five seasons with Jacksonville. Myles Harden gave up a passer rating of 120.0 in the slot last season. All of the depth players are newcomers with something to prove.

Kristian Fulton, Riley Moss, Michael Carter II

The Chiefs loaded up on cornerbacks after trading away Trent McDuffie this offseason. Kristian Fulton could be the odd man out of the rotation with the first-round pick Mansoor Delane and Nohl Williams starting. He would bring more experience to the table.

Riley Moss is a name to keep an eye on as the season gets rolling. He's in a contract year and the Broncos are already paying up for Patrick Surtain II.

Michael Carter II would give them a veteran slot option to push Harden. He's stuck at the bottom of a deep secondary in Philadelphia.

Harold Fannin Jr., Blake Whiteheart, Carsen Ryan

Monken earned the Cleveland job, in part, because of what he did with the Baltimore Ravens offense last season.

The Browns were first in 12 personnel usage last season, and Monken utilized it at the third-highest rate . That was easy to do with Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews. Harold Fannin Jr. was a bright spot for the offense in his rookie season.

There isn't any proven depth on the roster now.

Evan Engram, Theo Johnson, Quintin Morris

Engram is the biggest name who could be available on the trade block. However, the financial realities of his contract don't match up with the production that he has given Denver.

The more realistic path toward improving the room would be targeting a better fit whose circumstances could lead to him being dealt.

Theo Johnson has the tools to make a leap, but John Harbaugh brought Isaiah Likely with him to the Giants. Quintin Morris is a blocking tight end who could take some of the dirty work off Fannin's plate.

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Jared Verse, Isaiah McGuire, Derek Barnett, Sam Williams

Because replacing Myles Garrett is hard. It became even harder when Alex Wright, fresh off a three-year, $33 million contract extension in November, suffered a ruptured Achilles in practice. The Browns have since added Derek Barnett and Sam Williams off waivers. That isn't likely to be enough to get them through the season with a viable pass rush.

The Browns shouldn't be taking too big of a swing here. There's still money invested in Wright and they'll have to hope he can come back from a devastating injury next season.

A 33-year-old veteran like Bud Dupree shouldn't cost too much and the Chargers might want to clear more snaps for rookie Akheem Mesidor.

The other tactic would be targeting a former first-round pick on the final year of his deal. Felix Anudike-Uzomah hasn't broken out in Kansas City and they already declined his fifth-year option. A change of scenery could help.