CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are tired of getting pushed around. Following a brutal 5-12 finish in 2025 that cost the previous coaching staff their jobs, General Manager Andrew Berry took a sledgehammer to the roster. The Cleveland Browns 2026 free agency approach has been anything but subtle. Berry aggressively targeted the trenches, committing massive guaranteed money to reconstruct the offensive line and protect whoever takes snaps under new head coach Todd Monken. The defense, anchored by Myles Garrett’s historic 23-sack campaign, remains elite. Now, the offense finally has the armor to match.
Berry did not just nibble at the market; he devoured it. The front office moved on from aging stalwarts like Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin, clearing space for a younger, meaner iteration of the Cleveland wall. They prioritized proven, versatile veterans to execute Monken’s downhill, physical scheme.
The crown jewel is undoubtedly Elgton Jenkins. Cleveland secured the two-time Pro Bowl center on a two-year, $24 million contract. Giving Jenkins $15 million in guarantees proves the Browns believe he is fully recovered from his injury-shortened 2025 season. He brings elite stabilization to the middle of the line. Grade: A
Complementing Jenkins is guard Zion Johnson, who inked a massive three-year, $49.5 million deal. Johnson offers incredible run-blocking leverage. Pair him with Jenkins, and the Browns suddenly boast one of the most formidable interior duos in the NFL. Grade: B+
They did not stop there. Berry traded a fifth-round pick for right tackle Tytus Howard and immediately locked him down with a three-year, $45 million extension. Add in the quiet re-signing of versatile guard Teven Jenkins for one year and $4 million, and the protection issues that derailed 2025 should be dead and buried. Grade: A-
On the other side of the ball, the Browns secured speedy linebacker Quincy Williams on a three-year, $54 million contract. Williams racked up over 130 tackles last year, acting as a heat-seeking missile on defense. They also grabbed edge rusher AJ Epenesa on a budget-friendly one-year deal worth up to $5 million to rotate behind Garrett. Grade: A
“The more guys we got the better that can play different positions. You don’t want to play musical chairs, but you do want guys that’s able to fill in if a guy goes down or we need a guy this week. So I’m definitely open to playing anything and what’s going to help the team.”
— Elgton Jenkins, Browns Center
The AFC North is an absolute gauntlet. You cannot survive it with a weak offensive line. By investing heavily in Jenkins, Johnson, and Howard, the Browns are raising their floor immediately. This is not a rebuilding phase; it is an arms race. Cleveland is betting that a healthy, fortified front five will unlock Monken’s playbook and maximize their quarterback room.
Looking ahead, the Browns hold the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the interior line and right tackle solidified, expect Berry to target a premier left tackle to complete the set. I witnessed the energy shift at the team’s facility this week. The chilly Lake Erie wind didn’t deter the fans gathered outside, and inside, the tension from last year’s collapse is gone. It has been replaced by a violent, focused urgency. If this rebuilt line gels during training camp, Cleveland instantly transforms from a divisional bottom-feeder into a legitimate, dark-horse playoff threat.
