Cleveland Browns 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings

71.4PFM Team Score

PFM Verdict

Why PFM Ranks the Browns Here

Jared Verse gives Cleveland a dependable pass-rush anchor, but the Browns still do not have a quarterback answer they can trust. That uncertainty keeps them at No. 31 despite useful pieces on both lines. Todd Monken needs the run game and protection to simplify the job because neither Deshaun Watson nor the rest of the competition has supplied a proven recent floor.

NFL Rank#31Current PFM ranking

AFC Rank#15Among AFC teams

QB Stability#32Deshaun Watson · Red Alert

Season OutlookRebuilding or Major Concerns

Head coachTodd Monken

Offensive coordinatorTravis Switzer

Defensive coordinatorMike Rutenberg

Offense70.3No. 30

Defense84.2No. 7

Coaching Direction73.0No. 26

Regular-Season Baseline

PFM Trend

Baseline September 8, 2026

Current stateBaseline set

Cleveland starts the regular season with a 71.4 PFM Team Score and the No. 31 spot in PFM’s NFL rankings. Movement will appear after the first published weekly ratings update.

PFM Team Score71.4

Score movementStarts here

NFL RankNo. 31

Rank movementStarts here

See Latest NFL Ranking Changes

PFM Team DNA

Cleveland Browns Team DNA

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PFM category scores · 0–100 scale

QB Stability66.8No. 32 in NFLMajor Concern

Offense70.3No. 30 in NFLMajor Concern

Explosiveness63.8No. 31 in NFLMajor Concern

Roster Strength76.3No. 25 in NFLConcern

Franchise Direction69.4No. 31 in NFLMajor Concern

Coaching Direction73.0No. 26 in NFLMajor Concern

Defense84.2No. 7 in NFLStrength

Identity

Defense Leads the Way

Cleveland wants the line and run game to make vertical play action safe for an unsettled quarterback room. Jared Verse and the front are the more dependable side of the roster.

Pressure Point

Cleveland Needs One Quarterback to Take Control

Cleveland needs the quarterback competition to produce one answer it can trust, with Deshaun Watson currently in the mix. The larger concern is an unsettled quarterback competition with no proven recent answer.

Week 1 matchup

AwayCLE0-0

HomeJAX0-0

Pick the winner.

PFM ROAD AHEAD

2026 Cleveland Browns Strength of Schedule

Cleveland has one of the league’s more favorable schedules at No. 32, with opponents averaging 77.2. Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals still give the schedule a real test, but 0 games against current top-10 teams keep the full road from looking as heavy as most.

Difficulty Rank#32No. 1 is toughest

Opponent PFM Avg.77.2Average across opponents

Next 3 Avg.77.9Upcoming opponents

Top-10 Matchups0Games vs. current top 10

Away games left9

Away opponent average76.9

Week 1

at Jacksonville Jaguars83.1 PFM · #14

Sep 13 · 1:00 pm

Away

Week 2

at Tampa Bay Buccaneers78.6 PFM · #20

Sep 20 · 1:00 pm

Away

Week 3

vs. Carolina Panthers72.1 PFM · #30

Sep 27 · 1:00 pm

HomeBottom 10

Toughest remaining opponent: Houston Texans at 83.8 PFM.

See all 32 NFL strength of schedule rankings View Cleveland Browns’ full schedule breakdown

PFM ReporterReportedAugust 27, 2026

Cedric Tillman Release Confirms Cleveland's Receiver Room Makeover

Cleveland is releasing Cedric Tillman after three seasons and 19 starts.

The move matters more as a depth-chart signal than a talent loss by itself because the Browns spent heavily on younger receivers this offseason and are clearly moving the room in a different direction. PFM's bigger offensive problem remains quarterback stability, so this does not justify a rating move.

By Justin Fuhr

Sources: NFL news roundup: Dolphins trading WR Tutu Atwell back to Rams; Packers signing TE Jonnu Smith

Around the League

League Context

Closest Team DNA Match

Built Like Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas RaidersMatch distance: 4.98 rating points

Shared profile: Roster Strength and Coaching Direction.

Cleveland finds early-down control through the offensive line, while Las Vegas finds early-down control through the offensive line. Roster Strength and Coaching Direction line up because each staff has enough usable depth to adjust without forcing one star into every solution. The defensive gap favors Cleveland, with the stronger mix of rush and coverage built around coverage and the defensive front.

Where they separate: Defense. Browns hold the stronger current rating.

View Raiders dashboard Compare the teams

Division Pressure