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The Cleveland Browns are in a unique position in the NFL. They potentially have a playoff-caliber roster right now, and may just be one key player away from making that playoff aspiration possible. Unfortunately, that one key player they're lacking just so happens to be the quarterback spot; the one position many people believe is the most important in sports.
Does that mean that the Browns can't compete in 2026 without one? No, in fact, we've seen quarterback-challenged teams make deep runs before. It's not often, but it does happen. For instance, in 2006, when the Chicago Bears went to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman. Or in 2015, when the Denver Broncos went to, and won, a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning, who was a shell of his former self.
It's possible for the Browns to make a deep playoff run regardless of whoever is at quarterback. For that to happen, however, several key players are going to need to really step up for that to be possible.
3 players the Browns need to step up in 2026
Quinshon Judkins
The Cleveland Browns are likely going to need to lean heavily on their running game regardless of who starts at quarterback this season. The Browns seem to have a good one in Quinshon Judkins, the second-round pick from 2025 who had a good rookie year. Behind a bad offensive line, Judkins put up 827 yards and seven rushing touchdowns, all before he got hurt. He fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle in the Week 16 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Assuming he can bounce back and the offensive line is in better shape, it's very likely that he not only outperforms his per-rush output of 3.6 yards per carry, but that he breaks the century mark in season two with a strong, 1,000+ yard performance. The Browns will need every year of that too, if they hope to have a viable offense.
Carson Schwesinger
All eyes are on Carson Schwesinger now. After losing Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah once again for the season, and possibly for his career, and the trade of Myles Garrett, the Browns are lacking some major impact players on defense. There's hope that Jared Verse can be the all-around impact player that many expect him to be, but even if he's not, Schwesinger is being eyed as the new lead man on defense.
If he can't stabilize the defense after a pretty tumultuous offseason, that saw him lose his defensive coordinator and a key asset next to him in the lineup in Garrett, then people will begin to wonder if the hype surrounding the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year winner is justified.
KC Concepcion or Denzel Boston
A good wide receiver can help a quarterback; a great wide receiver can make a quarterback. Under Andrew Berry, the Browns have once again drafted wide receivers early in the NFL draft, hoping for a vastly different outcome. Hopefully the Browns get better returns on their investments than they did with Cedric Tillman, Anthony Schwartz, or David Bell.
If KC Concepcion or Denzel Boston can be better than advertised and become a star wideout in this league, then it's possible the passing game in 2026 won't be doomed. It won't be great, but if one of them turns into an All-Pro, then the Browns at least can have a target they can rely on.
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