With the Cleveland Browns failing to make the playoffs for the second straight season, it’s time to take a step back, evaluate everything and prepare for next season. It’s often not fun during a rebuild with a lot of losses, but you can always think about potential situations with the pieces surrounding your team. For the Browns, it was mostly defensive players.
Let’s turn our attention to offense instead of focusing on defense. It’s safe to say the entire offense needs an overhaul. Planning, coaching, everything needs to be addressed. The question is what the offense will look like if it either sticks with quarterback Shadre Sanders or selects a player high in the 2026 NFL Draft like Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore.
advertise
Browns improve offense with QB Shedeur Sanders in 2026
If the Browns choose to invest in Shaddell Sanders and improve the offense by surrounding him with a better supporting cast (with weapons and a better offensive line), what will the team’s overall ceiling be?
Potential 2026 starting lineup:
QB: Shaddell Sanders
RB1/RB2: Kunshan Judkins/Dylan Sampson
WR1: Carnell Tate
WR2: Jerry Jeudy
WR3: Deebo Samuel
TE1/TE2: Harold Fannin Jr/Eli Stowers (right)
LT: Caleb Lomu
LG: Wyatt Taylor
C: Luke Weppler
RG: Tevin Jenkins
RT: Davande Jones
At first glance, this assumes the Browns choose to invest in Sanders. This offense is probably around the top 15 or 20 as far as coaching is concerned, but the team’s ceiling is around 8-9 wins. In the AFC, it’s not enough to win the AFC North, let alone make it to the Super Bowl. Sanders’ ceiling hasn’t been officially determined, but with a supporting cast, it’s hard to imagine this team being a legitimate contender in the AFC and potentially getting better, at least next year.
advertise
It’s good, but not enough to get you where you need to go.
Browns revamped offense with Mendoza/Moore in 2026
In this case, the Browns ended up selecting quarterback Dante Moore over Fernando Mendoza
QB: Dante Moore
RB1/RB2: Kunshan Judkins/Dylan Sampson
WR1: Demonic Lemon
WR2: Romeo Dubs
WR3: Christian Kirk
TE1/TE2: Harold Fanning Jr./Oscar Delp
LT: Rasheed Walker
LG: Tevin Jenkins
C: Luke Weppler
RG: Wyatt Taylor
RT: Jennings dunker
At first glance, this offense is more likely to work with either Moore or Mendoza at center. Cleveland’s offense doesn’t have a lot of talent; they need someone who can increase the unit’s ceiling. Moore has been compared to Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (which isn’t that far off), but we’ve seen how Stroud elevated Houston’s offense during his rookie season. With this unit, you can rack up 10+ wins, become a legitimate threat to win the AFC North, and become a potential threat to win the AFC Championship next season.
advertise
The Browns need a lot of help on offense, but what they really need is someone who can elevate the entire team and take them to new heights. It’s too early to say Sanders can provide that, but he hasn’t shown it yet, so the Browns should invest in someone who can.