Browns season predictions: 10 things Jared thinks will happen this year

The Cleveland Browns 2025 NFL season kicks off on Sunday with a matchup against the in-state rival Cincinnati Bengals. While most of the DBN staff is predicting a victory in Week 1, the general public and betting markets believe that the Browns will once again be picking at the top of the NFL draft in 2026.

Surprisingly, Cleveland and Cincinnati fans have a similar rate of hope for their team’s direction starting the season.

With just a few hours until the first full slate of Sunday games gets started, I wanted to share a few predictions I have for the season. Like most predictions, many will likely be wrong, but that is a part of the fun.

1. 3 quarterbacks will start this season for Cleveland, but Shedeur Sanders will not get on the field until Week 17 at the earliest
2. The return of Joe Flacco will lead to a lot more confidence for the defense and a much better performance overall, even if that unit doesn’t end up as a Top 3 group this year
3. Flacco to TE David Njoku will lead to a career year for the athletic tight end and either a big contract of the Browns placing a franchise tag on him this offseason
4. CB Greg Newsome II is no longer seen as the problem for Cleveland’s secondary, but the slot corner role becomes the biggest issue for the group
5. Despite the losses at linebacker, Jim Schwartz’s scheme keeps there from being a drop off while Carson Schwesinger gets Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration
6. Either Cedric Tillman and/or Jamari Thrash have breakout seasons approaching 900 yards or 10 TDs
7. The rushing attack struggles to start the season as the line adjusts back to the new system and Quinshon Judkins gets up to speed
8. HC Kevin Stefanski continues to call trick plays with Isaiah Bond, DeAndre Carter, Gage Larvadain and Dylan Sampson being used to try to take advantage of defenses. Some will be successful, the others will lead to continued fan anger
9. DE Myles Garrett will once again compete for Defensive Player of the Year, but a player less deserving who has never won it will get the award
10. The Browns will end the season 7-10, more than doubling last year’s win total, but still not have certainty at the quarterback position, but hoping that their two first-round picks are enough to get them the Franchise QB that has alluded them

What are your Browns season predictions? Share them with us in the comment section below