The air in Northeast Ohio is different this January. It isn’t just the lake effect snow or the usual post-season grumbling. It’s the sound of a total teardown. On January 5, 2026, the Cleveland Browns fired Kevin Stefanski.
That was the starting gun.
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Since then, the news cycle has been a blur of practice squad elevations, "reserve/futures" contracts, and the looming shadow of a salary cap that looks like a horror movie script. If you think Cleveland Browns roster moves are just about depth charts, you’re missing the bigger picture. This is a franchise trying to find its soul after a 5-12 nightmare.
The Post-Stefanski Fallout
Look, firing a two-time Coach of the Year is a massive swing. Andrew Berry is still the guy pulling the strings in the front office, but the roster he's managing right now is basically a "Under Construction" sign.
Immediately after the season ended, the team started the ritual of signing guys to futures deals. We're talking about players like tight end Sal Cannella and wide receiver Luke Floriea. Honestly, most fans probably haven't heard of half these guys. But they matter. Floriea, the local kid from Mentor, became a bit of a cult hero in the 2025 preseason. He’s 5-foot-8 and plays like his hair is on fire.
The team also locked in Tyre Phillips and Caden Prieskorn. These aren't the moves that win Super Bowls, but they're the ones that fill out a training camp roster when you’re staring down 26 pending free agents.
Why the 2026 Free Agent List is Terrifying
The math is bad. Really bad.
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According to the latest numbers, Cleveland is sitting about $11 million over the 2026 salary cap. And the list of guys whose contracts are expiring? It’s a "who’s who" of the roster.
- Joel Bitonio: The heart of the line. He’s 34.
- Wyatt Teller: The muscle.
- David Njoku: Finally became the elite TE everyone wanted.
- Ethan Pocic: The glue in the middle.
You see the pattern? The entire interior of the offensive line is basically walking toward the exit door at the same time. If Andrew Berry can’t work some magic with restructures, this team is going to have to rely on young guys like Zak Zinter and maybe some mid-round draft picks to protect whoever is under center.
The Deshaun Watson Reality Check
We have to talk about it. Everyone wants to talk about it.
Deshaun Watson is the $230 million elephant in the room. He spent the end of 2025 on the practice field but never actually played a snap because of that Achilles recovery. He’s entering the final year of that fully guaranteed deal in 2026.
Andrew Berry basically admitted in his end-of-year presser that Watson will be on the team. Why? Because cutting him would basically bankrupt the franchise's cap space for three years. It's a "stuck" situation.
But will he start?
That's the $230 million question. Last year’s rookies—Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel—had their moments, but let's be real: they looked like rookies. Sanders has the swagger, and Gabriel has the touch, but neither one screamed "franchise savior" in 2025. There's a very real world where the new head coach—whoever that ends up being—looks at the roster and decides a healthy Watson is still the best bridge to the future.
The Coaching Carousel and Roster Identity
The Browns have been interviewing everyone and their brother. Jim Schwartz is the internal favorite, but you've got names like Todd Monken and even the young sensation Grant Udinski from Jacksonville in the mix.
The roster moves we see in March will depend entirely on this hire.
If they go with a defensive-minded guy like Schwartz, expect them to pour resources into the secondary. If they hire an offensive innovator like Mike McDaniel (who recently interviewed), they might prioritize speed over the "grunt" power of the Bitonio/Teller era.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think the Browns are going to "blow it up."
They can't.
When you have Myles Garrett coming off a 23-sack season—literally breaking the NFL record—you don't just tank. You've got a generational talent in his prime. You've got Denzel Ward still lockdown. You've got Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah flying around.
The roster moves this spring won't be a fire sale. They’ll be a surgical attempt to fix the offensive line and find a quarterback who can actually complete a pass on third-and-long.
Real Insights for the 2026 Offseason
The Browns recently traded Greg Newsome II to the Jaguars for Tyson Campbell and a pick. That was a savvy move. Campbell is a stud, and it showed that Berry isn't afraid to move "name" players if the value is right.
Expect more of that.
The linebacker room is actually a bright spot. Carson Schwesinger was a revelation as a rookie. He and Devin Bush (if they can re-sign him) gave this team a physical edge they’ve lacked.
What’s Next for the Dawg Pound?
If you're looking for a silver lining, it's the draft. The Browns actually have picks again.
The focus has to be on the trenches. You cannot go into 2026 with a makeshift offensive line and expect Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson to survive.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Salary Cap: Track the "post-June 1" designations. This is where Berry will find the money to sign a veteran wideout.
- Monitor the O-Line Health: If Bitonio or Teller aren't extended by March, they are likely gone.
- The Head Coach Impact: As soon as a coach is hired, look at their "scheme fit" players. If it's a wide-zone coach, the current heavy guards are in trouble.
The Browns are at a crossroads. The roster moves over the next sixty days will determine if the "swing and a miss" on the Watson trade defines the next decade, or if they can finally build a winner around Myles Garrett's historic greatness.
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It’s going to be a long, loud spring in Berea.