2025 NFL Preview: Cleveland Browns Season Outlook, Schedule & Prediction
2025 CLEVELAND BROWNS SEASON PREVIEW
It was another disastrous season for the Cleveland Browns last year. Deshaun Waton played the first seven games of the season, going 1-6 as a starter, before missing the rest of the year. The Browns would g onto play three more quarterbacks and win just two more games. The Browns ended the season on a six-game losing streak and had just three wins on the year.
OFFENSE
The Browns do not have much going for them on this side of the ball right now — and it begins with the quarterback position.
Cleveland currently has four options that could win the starting job. The favorite right now is Joe Flacco, who signed a one-year deal in free agency. Cleveland also made a trade for Kenny Pickett before adding Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the draft.
Flacco led the Browns to the postseason in 2023 but those odds are extremely high this year. In the backfield, long-time back Nick Chubb left for Houston. The Browns added Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the draft. The future of the former Ohio State Buckeye is in question after issues off the field.
On the outside, the eventual starting quarterback will have an intriguing group of pass catchers to work with. Jerry Jeudy emerged as a legitimate No. 1 option but still has room to grow. He will need to become more consistent this season. The Browns also brought in Diontae Johnson to join Jeudy on the outside. David Njoku has turned into one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the lead as well.
Along the offensive line, there are more questions on the outside. The Browns are hopeful that Dawand Jones can become the next great left tackle but it is too early to tell. Jack Conklin is solid at right tackle while the interior of the line is strong. Joe Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are as good a guard duo as there is.
For Cleveland, it all comes down to the quarterback position. The Deshaun Watson experiment is a complete mess and set the team back even further.
DEFENSE
The Browns’ defense received great news when the front office decided to pay Myles Garrett.
After requesting a trade, claiming he wants to play for a contender, Garrett received a massive extension and decided to remain with the Browns. Garrett finished the 2024 season with 14 sacks and is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate once again.
Garrett will be joined by Maliek Collins and rookie Mason Graham along the defensive line. The Browns decided to move the No. 2 pick in the draft and gain a first-rounder in 2026. This allowed them to move back to No. 5 and select Graham out of Michigan.
The linebackers took a big hit with the injury to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. He will miss the 2025 season as well and is likely the reason Cleveland added UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger in the second round.
The secondary played down a bit last season but has a big game leading the way in Denzel Ward. He is expected to bounce back after a bit of a down year. Greg Newsome and Martin Emerson will join Ward in the secondary.
SCHEDULE
Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 4: at Detroit Lions
Week 5: vs. Minnesota Vikings (Dublin)
Week 6: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 7: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 8: at New England Patriots
Week 9: BYE WEEK
Week 10: at New York Jets
Week 11: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 12: at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 15: at Chicago Bears
Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 18: at Cincinnati Bengals
Record Prediction: 4-13