7 Big Takeaways From Cleveland Browns' First Preseason Depth Chart

The Cleveland Browns released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2026 Preseason, and as expected, there were a few surprises.

As announced earlier by head coach Todd Monken, the quarterback position was going to show two co-starters, while a trio of rookies are slotted with the starting unit on offense.

Here are seven takeaways from the first installment of the Browns’ unofficial depth chart:

No starting quarterback in sight

John Madden used to famously say, “if you have two quarterbacks, you have none.“

Nowhere has this proven to be more accurate than with these Browns, still undecided on who will be the starter come Week 1 of the regular season.

Head coach Todd Monken has promised Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders one start each in the preseason, but if Cleveland is really waiting until after August 22nd to make a call, how much preparation will the eventual starter get before the regular season opener, without having to look over his shoulder and being able to really focus on the task at hand?

Three rookies make first team on offense, none on defense

The scales were always tipped towards the offense, after the team went offense-heavy in last April’s draft, including their top three picks. Now, said top three draftees are penciled in as starters -- Spencer Fano as left tackle, and KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston as wide receivers.

Fano’s inclusion among the starters is especially noteworthy, since it comes a few days after Monken shared that the team was considering staying with Dawand Jones, in case he wasn’t ready for the starting role. A training camp fight against Jared Verse helped change Monken’s mind about Fano’s readiness.

One undecided spot on the O-Line

Even though Monken maintained from the very beginning that his preference was having Elgton Jenkins at guard, the team has him as the team’s starting center, with Teven Jenkins and KT Leveston battling it out for the right guard spot. Monken shared that Jenkins had the edge over Leveston thanks to experience, which would explain why he’s listed as the current starter, though there still might be some changes here.

Rookie tight ends on the bubble

Cleveland drafted two tight ends this year, and both of them are listed way on the deep end of the depth chart. It might be hard for the Browns to make room for both of them on the practice squad.

Defensive line looks thin

The starting foursome consisting of Verse and Alex Wright on the outside, paired with Mason Graham with Maliek Collins -- who’s on the PUP list -- on the inside, doesn’t really inspire awe. But things get more concerning once you get to the second and third stringers. Having the end positions manned by Isaiah McGuire, Julian Okwara and UDFAs Logan Fano and Khordae Sydnore, while the interior is handled by backups Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Sam Kamara, Adin Huntington and UDFA Tyreak Sapp, just feels like a scream for help from the outside.

A surprise among the ‘backers

Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams were always going to be starters for Cleveland, and chances are they’ll be the two linebackers on the field when the Browns go to nickel alignment. But having Cleveland list Easton Mascarenas-Arnold as the third starter is a nice surprise, overtaking Nathaniel Watson, Winston Reid and rookie Justin Jefferson for that spot. That position battle has flown under the radar, understandably, but it does feel like a tight one.

No fifth defensive back, yet

With teams spending so much time in nickel and big nickel formations, it’s become increasingly popular to see depth charts listing five starting DBs instead of four.

Cleveland didn’t take this route, sticking with Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell at the corners, and Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman as safeties. This left second-round rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren -- who’s expected to play a lot in three safety looks -- as a second stringer, along with presumptive nickel corner Myles Harden.

Like with the offensive backfield, expect the team to shed a lot of weight from their offseason 90-man roster here.

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