The Browns Most Unlikely 2026 MVP
Sunday the Cleveland Browns will open their 2026 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Game time is 12:00 noon CST and as always the ChicagoLand Browns Backers will meet up at Burke’s Public House 5401 N. Broadway to cheer them on to an opening day victory. The Browns enter the 2026 NFL season with the second youngest roster in the league. On Sunday, 9 of the 22 Browns starters taking the field will be either rookies or second year players, with 4 of those rookies starting on offense. Backing up the 22 starters will be 3 additional rookies and 5 second year players. With a squad this young and inexperienced any long-term injuries to starters could be devastating thus my candidates for potential team MVP’s this season will be the Browns training and conditioning staff. And I’m not even counting the potential for injury to a 30-year-old Deshaun Watson who hasn’t played in 2 seasons because of injuries. So, this Sunday before you sit down to cheer on the Browns, please take a moment to wish the training staff a successful season and keep in mind they could very well be the team’s MVP this season if they can keep the starting lineup on the field. Any injuries to the offensive line, receiving corps, defensive line or linebackers could be disastrous. Speaking of lack of experience, this will be Todd Monken first year as a Head Coach in the NFL, Mike Rutenberg’s first year as a Defensive Coordinator in the NFL, Travis Switzer first year as an Offensive Coordinator in the NFL and Byron Storer’s first year as a Special Teams Coordinator in the NFL. So once again under team owner Jimmy Haslam, working for the Browns continues to be an entry level job for the NFL.
This Season’s Week 1 Starters
OFFENSE – WR-Denzel Boston (#12), WR-Jerry Jeudy (#3), WR-KC Concepcion (#1), TE-Harold Fannin Jr. (#44), LT-Spencer Fano (#55), LG-Zion Johnson (#77), C-Elgton Jenkins (#74), RG-Austin Barber (#58), RT-Tytus Howard (#71), QB (for now)-Deshaun Watson (#4), RB-Quinshon Judkins (#10), 3rd down RB- Dylan Sampson (#22)
DEFENSE- CB-Denzel Ward (#21), CB-Tyson Campbell, DE-Jared Verse (#8), DT-Maliek Collins (#96), DT-Mason Graham (#94), DE-Isaiah McGuire (#57), WLB-Quincy Williams (#57), MLB-Carson Schwesinger (#49), SLB-Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (#5), S- Grant Delpit (#9), SS- Ronnie Hickman Jr. (#33)
SPECIAL TEAMS – P- Cory Bojorquez (#13), K-Andre Szmyt (#25), KR-Malachi Corley (#11), PR- KC Concepcion (#1), LS-Rex Sunahara (#50).
The Browns vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off one of their most successful seasons since joining the NFL in 1997, winning their last 8 games leading to a 13-4 regular season record and the AFC South Division title before losing to the Buffalo Bills 27-24 in the AFC Wildcard game. The Browns defense will have to be at its best to hold down a Jaguars offense that averaged 27.7 points per game, sixth best in the NFL. The Jaguars offense is led by dual threat QB Trevor Lawrence, with workhouse RB Travis Etienne signing with the Saints in the offseason, 2nd year RB Bhayshul Tuten is expected to handle most of the rushing duties. Lawrence’s 2025 QB rating of 90.7 was 19th in the NFL. While Lawrence has great arm talent he can be inconsistent, completing less than 61% of his passes good for 30th among NFL QB’s while getting sacked 41 times. Last season, he threw for 4,214 yards with 32 TD’s against 14 interceptions and 5 fumbles potentially giving the Browns defense multiple opportunities for turnovers. Lawrence is a big (6’6” 240 lbs.) mobile QB who will test the Browns front 7 defense with his running ability especially near the goal line and in short yardage. Last season he led the team with 9 rushing TD’s. His favorite receivers are Parker Washington who caught 65 passes for 954 yards and 6 TD’s last season and Jakobi Meyers who caught 3 TD’s and averaged 11.5 yards per catch. With a new Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator and the starting receivers Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Jerry Jeudy along with TE Harold Fanning Jr. and RB Quinshon Judkins playing few if any downs during the preseason I’m not sure anyone knows what the Browns offense will look like this season. When you add in Deshaun Watson’s two relatively poor preseason game performances and the Buffalo Bills defense verbally mocking him as the “checkdown King” during their joint practice there’s even more uncertainty about the offense. One thing we do know is that the Browns offense will probably need to move the ball through the air against a Jaguars defense that led the NFL in rushing defense last season giving up only 85 yards per game. They did give up 220 passing yards per game 20th in the NFL and they were also 30th in sack percentage which could help a revamped Browns offensive line protect Watson long enough to give him time to throw downfield. However, if the Browns try to rely on a short passing game and rushing attack against the Jaguars it could be a long afternoon for the guys in the orange helmets. Overall, the Jaguars were 11th in total defense despite being 30th in QB sack rate. GO BROWNS…..GO GUARDIANS