Browns Could Play Role of 'Spoiler' in Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for 2025

Jul 18, 2025 12:53 PM EDT

The Cleveland Browns took a step backward in 2024 after a playoff appearance in 2023 behind super-sub quarterback Joe Flacco.

Flacco returns to the fold for 2025, but he’s not been given the keys to the offense yet, and could find himself on the bench to start the season if fellow veteran Kenny Pickett or one of the draft picks in Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders impresses in training camp and preseason.

While the defense is clearly the most talented unit on the team, 2025 could ride on the performance of the offense, and particularly, the quarterback position.

Pro Football Network predicted each team’s best- and worst-case scenarios ahead of the 2025 season, and at the very worst, the Browns could play spoiler.

BEST-CASE SCENARIO

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“Things don’t look all that peachy for the Cleveland Browns heading into 2025. They don’t know who their quarterback is going to be, and they don’t have much proven offensive firepower outside of Jerry Jeudy at wide receiver. That makes it difficult to project them as a playoff contender,” PFN wrote. “That said, the Browns could still turn some heads and build momentum going into 2026. They have a talented defense with a great coordinator in Jim Schwartz, and the unit got better by drafting Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger.

“If one of the quarterbacks starts making some noise, Cleveland could play spoiler for some teams down the stretch.”

WORST-CASE SCENARIO

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“The four-man quarterback competition should be an indication enough that 2025 figures to be a rough season for the Cleveland Browns,” PFN wrote. “None of all their options to replace the injured Deshaun Watson seem particularly inspiring as immediate answers at QB. While the Browns have some good players, their offensive firepower is severely lacking.

“The defense took a slight step back in 2024, and unless that unit performs at an elite level this year, they’ll likely find themselves in the basement of not just the AFC North but potentially the entire NFL.”