Browns Report Card: Cleveland has some young bright spots that give something positive to take from their rough start

Glue Guy: LG Joel Bitonio

Bitonio has gutted it out through a back injury this season and hasn’t let it sideline him yet. A player who only misses time when absolutely necessary, Bitonio has been the steadying force on an otherwise struggling offensive line. There isn’t much good happening up front, but he continues to hold his own.

Biggest Surprise: TE Harold Fannin Jr.

Cleveland’s third-round pick leads the team in receiving with 254 yards and two touchdowns through six games. It looks like the Browns landed a real steal, as Fannin is tough to bring down every time he touches the ball. The rookie from Bowling Green is on track for a very strong debut season statistically.

Biggest Disappointment: WR Jerry Jeudy

The Browns hoped Jeudy would build off a Pro Bowl-caliber season last year and take the next step, but that hasn’t happened. Drops have been an issue — he already has six on just 20 catches this season. Cleveland’s top wideout has 240 yards through six games but no touchdowns, marking a clear step back from his 1,229-yard campaign last year.

Offense Overall Grade: D-

Defensive Superlatives

MVP: DE Myles Garrett

This one won’t change as long as Garrett continues playing at an All-Pro level. Cleveland has one of the best defenses in the NFL, and Garrett is the driving force. He remains one of the hardest players in football to game-plan for and has four sacks through six games. He’s due to go on another sack streak soon, as he hasn’t recorded one in his last three outings.

Glue Guy: S Grant Delpit

Greg Newsome would’ve been in consideration for this spot, but he’s now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Delpit has been a high-energy, versatile safety this year, totaling 19 tackles and an interception. He’s been particularly effective on third downs, and his leadership and swagger have made him a tone-setter for the defense.

Biggest Surprise: DT Maliek Collins

Collins has been the Browns’ best free-agent signing and is playing at a Pro Bowl level. He’s earned an 89.9 Pro Football Focus grade and has flourished in Jim Schwartz’s defensive scheme. The former 49er has 14 tackles and 3.5 sacks already, proving to be a clear upgrade over Dalvin Tomlinson.

Biggest Disappointment: DT Mike Hall Jr.’s Injury

Cleveland’s defense has been playing at a high level despite not being fully healthy. The Martin Emerson Jr. injury in training camp ended his season before it began, and second-round pick Mike Hall Jr. has yet to take the field. Once he’s healthy, the Browns’ defensive line could become even more dangerous.

Defense Overall Grade: A

2025 Draft Class Superlatives

Overachiever: LB Carson Schwesinger

Schwesinger has been everything the Browns could’ve hoped for — and more — as a top second-round pick. Cleveland landed a player who already looks like a future Pro Bowler, with a multi-time All-Pro ceiling given how advanced he is as a rookie. He leads the team with 52 tackles and has added a sack. Schwesinger wears the green dot and plays with impressive intelligence in the middle of the defense.

Rookie We Need to See More From: RB Dylan Sampson

Sampson hasn’t shown much since Week 1 against the Bengals, when he caught eight passes for 64 yards out of the backfield. Judkins’ return has cut into his opportunities, and Cleveland doesn’t fully trust him as a pass blocker yet, which has hurt his third-down usage. The former Tennessee Vol has just 22 carries for 43 yards so far.

Underachiever: DT Mason Graham

As the No. 5 overall pick, expectations are high for Graham. The Michigan product has been solid but not yet dominant, posting five solo tackles and half a sack in six starts. He looks the part and has flashed potential, so the production should come with time.

Draft Class Overall Grade: A

Coaching Report Card

Cleveland is a tale of two sides: the defense is elite, while the offense continues to sputter. Jim Schwartz deserves a ton of credit for fielding a unit that allows just 278 yards per game, even without Martin Emerson Jr. and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

The offense, however, remains the problem. Kevin Stefanski, as head coach and play-caller, bears much of the blame. The Browns haven’t had a true offensive identity since 2022, when Nick Chubb was healthy, and they currently rank last in scoring at 13.7 points per game. It’s hard to see this coaching staff surviving the season unless they show more fight than they currently are.

Grade: C-

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