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Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry were both hired by the Cleveland Browns in 2020. Stefanski won two NFL Coach of the Year awards, both times he took the Browns to the playoffs. But Stefanski was let go this offseason after leading Cleveland to just an 8-26 record in the past two years.
The only thing that may have saved the Browns from cleaning house and hiring a new general manager too could have been Berry’s excellent 2025 draft class. The Browns injected a vast amount of talent last year, where all seven picks not only made the roster, but contributed as rookies. Some, like Carson Schwesinger and Harold Fannin Jr., became stars. Now, the future is looking a lot brighter in Cleveland.
Related: 5 Bold NFL Predictions For 2026, Including Big Changes to Cleveland Browns
ESPN Ranks Browns Fourth in Talent Under 25 Years Old
Last year, the Browns found a new starting DT, star linebacker, starting RB, and a star TE, all with their first four selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. They also added two quarterback prospects (one of which is now competing for the starting job) and their top backup RB with their final three picks. That’s just their contributions/placements after Year 1. Young players tend to improve at rapid rates, so this group could take a significant leap forward in 2026.
As for the talent the Browns have on hand right now, ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz believes Cleveland has the NFL’s best young core (under 25 years old) among non-playoff teams from last season. Overall, the Browns ranked fourth in the NFL, only behind the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, and Chicago Bears, all of whom boast a franchise QB under 25 years old. The Browns aren’t that lucky, yet the fact that the rest of their roster is strong enough to still earn them a top-five rank is impressive.
In Schatz’s mind, the Browns have four “blue-chip” talents — Fannin, Graham, Schwesinger, and Spencer Fano. While Fano is still an unproven rookie, he fits an overall theme in Cleveland; it’s not just that they have young players; the prospects they do have are really young.
The same is true on defense, where the Browns have somehow landed some extremely young, yet talented players. If the Browns play their cards right, these young players could stick around for second and even third contracts long after their rookie deals are done.
Of course, unless and until the Browns find capable QB play under center, it won’t matter so much that they have an elite young core of players in development. Yet, one day, the front office just might package some of their assets for a proven QB, and then the Browns could be ready to roll.
Related: Predicting 1 Breakout Candidate for All 32 NFL Teams in 2026
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