The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2026 Football Preview. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps, as well as defensive analysis from Raymond Summerlin. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2026 Football Preview.
With the 2026 NFL season fast approaching, let's look at the defense of the Cleveland Browns and preview how it might perform this season.
Cleveland Browns 2026 Defense Preview: A Unit-by-Unit Breakdown
The Browns allowed a middling 4.2 yards per carry to running backs last season, but they ranked second in yards allowed before contact on those carries (0.87). The No. 5 overall pick last year, Mason Graham stepped right in as a starter and played well against the run, recording 9 run stuffs. Maliek Collins is back after logging 6.5 sacks over just 12 games in his first season with the team.
Thanks in large part to Myles Garrett’s record-setting performance, the Browns finished eighth in pressure rate (39.5%) and third in sacks (53) last season. Garrett is now gone, though, with Jared Verse joining the team from the Rams. Verse is a talented player. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and recorded 7.5 sacks while ranking in the top 15 in pressure rate last season. It is not insulting to say Verse is not quite at Garrett’s level, though, and the rest of the depth chart on the edge is not great.
Linebacker can be a strong spot for the Browns this season if things play out as they hope. Cleveland hit big on 2025 second-round pick Carson Schwesinger, who logged 156 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions on his way to Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. The young linebacker will be joined in the starting lineup by Quincy Williams, who joined in free agency to replace Devin Bush. Williams is coming off a down season in New York while playing in a new scheme, but he was a first-team All-Pro back in 2023. The linebackers coach on that Jets team was Mike Rutenberg, who is taking over as the defensive coordinator in Cleveland.
Cleveland allowed 6.6 yards per pass attempt (9th) and finished first in EPA allowed per pass last season. Denzel Ward had a nice bounce-back season, finishing 28th among qualified cornerbacks in yards allowed per coverage snap. Acquired from the Jaguars in the trade that sent Greg Newsome the other way, Tyson Campbell was solid in his 12 games with the Browns. Myles Harden worked as the primary slot corner last season, but he struggled in that role, finishing 90th among qualified corners in yards allowed per coverage snap.
With Ronnie Hickman returning to the team, the Browns could run things back at safety, but they also added to the position early in the draft, selecting Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round. Hickman and Grant Delpit combined to play 2,051 snaps last season. Delpit finished 18th among defensive backs in run stuffs, though he was not as strong in pass coverage. Hickman picked up the slack there, allowing just a 78.7 passer rating in his coverage. If McNeil-Warren hits the ground running, Cleveland should have a good trio at safety.
This analysis continues in the 2026 Football Preview
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