The Cleveland Browns had a disappointing 2025 season, finishing 5-12, and chose to part ways with head coach Kevin Stefanski. This was after two consecutive seasons with five wins or fewer.
The team experienced multiple quarterback changes, with three players starting four games or more. Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders all had opportunities to play. Sanders started the most games, taking over under center for the final seven games of the season.
He recorded 1,400 passing yards, threw seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions and completed 56.6% of his passes. With a new head coach in Todd Monken, Sanders will have to prove during the offseason that he should continue as the starter next season.
The team needs to address issues with the offensive line, as Sanders was sacked 23 times last season. Altogether, the three quarterbacks were taken down 51 times, which was seventh-highest in the NFL. This is why NFL Network’s Dan Parr predicts that the Browns will select Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Monroe Freeling with the 24th pick in the first round.
“There are too many question marks on the offensive line for Cleveland to bypass the position twice in Round 1,” Parr wrote. “Freeling made just 16 starts at Georgia and will need some runway as he adjusts to the NFL, but the rebuilding Browns can afford to give him time.”
The effect of drafting Freeling would be a clear commitment to stabilizing the offense under Monken. With Cleveland quarterbacks absorbing so many sacks, improving protection is not optional. Adding Freeling would signal that the franchise intends to give its young quarterbacks a legitimate chance to develop rather than forcing them to operate under constant pressure.
From a broader standpoint, offensive line play often determines whether rebuilding teams make meaningful progress. Sanders showed flashes late in the season but struggled with consistency. Quarterbacks benefit most from clean pockets and balanced offensive structures.
Looking ahead, Cleveland’s offseason will center on solidifying Sanders as the projected starter entering training camp. If the Browns invest their first-round pick in Freeling, it would reshape the narrative around the franchise, shifting focus from quarterback uncertainty to infrastructure building. That approach could determine whether the Browns take a step forward in 2026 or continue cycling through instability at the game’s most important position.
This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.
