You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
The Browns haven’t tossed around the R (for rebuilding) -word around much, but that’s what they’re in the process of doing.
At least on the offensive side of the field.
It started with the replacing of head coach Kevin Stefanski with Todd Monken. It’s continuing with a possible complete overhaul of the offensive line. There will be additions to come at wide receiver and tight end. And the quarterback-of-the-future might not arrive until 2027.
After the departures of Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin and David Njoku, the longest-tenured Browns player on offense is – ready for this? -- quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is entering his fifth season. And the mechanism already is in place for Watson’s roster exit after the 2026 season, whereupon his $85+ million in dead cap charges will loom like vapor trails for two more seasons.
The Browns have a defense ready to win now.
GM Andrew Berry’s challenge is to get the league’s worst offense over the past two seasons to catch up fast, before the playoff window closes on the defense, whose best two players -- Myles Garrett, 30, and Denzel Ward, 29 in April – are well into their prime.
Can Berry rise to the challenge?
In this analysis, I compare the Browns to similar rebuilding projects being undertaken by the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins.
Each organization has its own assets on the roster, in the draft, and in future salary cap room. Each, also, has its own list of challenges to end its post-season drought.
The Jets haven’t made the playoffs in 15 years.
The Dolphins haven’t won a post-season game in 25 years.
The Browns haven’t finished first in their division in 36 years.
Here is a rundown of each organization’s situation.
New York Jets
2025 record: 3-14
Head coach: Aaron Glenn, 3-14, second year.
GM: Darren Mougey, 40, second year.
Player assets: Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, offensive tackle Armand Membou, running back Breece Hall, linebacker DeMario Davis, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Draft assets next two years: 19 picks.
2026: No. 2 overall (first round), No. 16 (first), No. 33 (second), No. 44 (second), No. 103 (fourth), No. 140 (fourth), No. 179 (fifth), No. 228 (seventh), No. 242 (seventh).
2027: Three firsts, second, third, fourth, fifth, three sixths.
Cap room
2026: $44.9 million.
2027 (projected) $160.6 million.
Analysis
Mougey was shrewd and proactive in trading defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner last season to acquire three additional picks in the first round and one in the second over the next two drafts. The Jets are now armed with five No. 1s in 2026-27, including three in next year’s draft when quarterbacks Arch Manning (Texas), Dante Moore (Oregon), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) and Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech) are expected to headline a talent-rich lottery. The Jets were very active in free agency this year, so they don’t feel they need to outwardly tank to position themselves for a franchise QB hopeful in 2027. Whether they usher in a new era with a new coach remains to be seen.
Miami Dolphins
2025 record: 7-10.
Head coach: Jeff Hafley, first year.
GM: Jon-Eric Sullivan, 49, first year.
Player assets: Quarterback Malik Willis, running back De’Von Achane, linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
Draft assets next two years: 20 picks.
2026: No. 11 (first), No. 30 (first), No. 43 (second), No. 75 (third), No. 87 (third), No. 90 (third), No. 94 (third), No. 130 (fourth), No. 151 (fifth), No. 227 (seventh), No. 238 (seventh).
2027: First, second, third, fourth, two fifths, sixth, two sevenths.
Cap room
2026: (fluid) Minus-$8.2 million.
2027: (projected) $156.2 million.
Analysis
Since being named Dolphins GM on January 9, the Packers-trained Sullivan has ripped his inherited roster down to the studs by releasing or trading the team’s highest salary cap liabilities – receiver Tyreek Hill, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, pass rusher Bradley Chubb, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and receiver Jaylen Waddle. At the same time, Sullivan signed the prize QB of the free agent market, Malik Willis, who looked great in one start – one! – with the Packers last year. Nevertheless, Willis’ three-year contract for $67.5 million, including $45 million guaranteed, reflects Sullivan’s confidence in Willis and effectively takes the Dolphins out of the QB draft market in 2027 – unless Willis bombs. With 20 picks in the next two drafts, including seven in the top 100 this year, Sullivan can concentrate on surrounding Willis with a young support group. The plan is for them all to grow up together.
Cleveland Browns
2025 record: 5-12.
Head coach: Todd Monken, first year.
GM: Andrew Berry, 38, seventh year.
Player assets: Top 5 defense, running back Quinshon Judkins, tight end Harold Fannin.
Draft assets next two years: 17 picks.
2026: No. 6 (first), No. 24 (first), No. 39 (second), No. 70 (third), No. 107 (fourth), No. 146 (fifth), No. 159 (fifth), No. 206 (sixth), No. 248 (seventh).
2027: First, second, third, fourth, two fifths, two sevenths.
Cap room
2026: $22.7 million.
2027: (projected) $76.9 million.
Analysis
Unlike his counterparts with the Jets and Dolphins, Berry declined to acknowledge a full team rebuild and is trying to toggle the integrity of a Top 5 defense with a decades-long pursuit of a franchise quarterback. By refusing (so far) to trade its top two player assets – Garrett and Ward – Berry may not have the draft capital in 2027 to compete for one of the top four QBs unless the record is bottom-five worst. At the same time, Monken is tasked with the challenge not only of improving the offense in his first season with a mish-mash QB room of Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, he has to keep the defense motivated to sustain its high level of play throughout another season of low expectations.