Browns' Todd Monken gets bleak expected win projection for 2026 season

The Cleveland Browns, coming off a rough 2025 season, made a lot of changes, not just to the roster but to the coaching staff.

Todd Monken was hired to be the new head coach, bringing with him some major offensive changes as well. But with Monken's hire was the departure of Jim Schwartz, which could be bad news for the defense next year.

Looking ahead to the start of the 2026 season, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport projected a bleak season for Monken in his debut season as a head coach in the NFL with the Browns.

Browns projected for bleak win total in Monken's first year as HC

"Realistic expectation: 6-11," Davenport projected for Monken's Browns. "From high expectations to no expectations. ... Fans expecting the team to be markedly better than it was a year ago are setting themselves up for disappointment."

The Browns made some big changes this offseason by firing Kevin Stefanski and handing the keys over to Monken on offense.

But Schwartz's departure, the defensive coordinator who helped Cleveland have a top-tier defense the last few years, is a big loss.

The entire offensive line is likely to be different, and while their OL in 2025 wasn't great, the play of Zion Johnson, Tytus Howard, and Teven Jenkins at left guard, right tackle, and right guard, respectively, is very uncertain.

More: ESPN does not like Tytus Howard trade for Cleveland

While the Browns will have two first-round picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft to get some help, with a massive hole at wide receiver and a need at left tackle, the Browns' offense needs a lot of work still this offseason.

And that doesn't even include the most important position at quarterback. Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, or Deshaun Watson is likely the starter in 2026.

While Sanders might have some intriguing upside, there's a reason he went in the fifth-round, and it's that his floor is very low.

A 6-11 season for Monken in year one would not be a surprise at all. In fact, if the Browns go 7-9 or better, it would be more of a surprise than if they went 5-12 or worse.

More Browns news:

• Zion Johnson agrees to $49.5 million contract with Browns
• Browns trade for offensive tackle Tytus Howard from Texans
• Cornelius Lucas released to save $2M by Browns
• Browns agree to deals with Elgton Jenkins and Teven Jenkins
• Devin Bush leaves Browns for Bears on $30 million contract