The Cleveland Browns enter the 2026 offseason at the very bottom of the league’s pecking order. In the latest Bleacher Report power rankings, Cleveland sits at No. 32, dead last among all 32 teams.

Yahoo Sports is only slightly kinder, placing the Browns at No. 29. Both rankings tell the same story of a team that chose to tear down rather than compete.

The defining move was trading Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Cleveland received edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, and conditional draft compensation in return.

Letting Garrett go was a seismic decision. He had just set the single-season sack record with 23 in 2025, won Defensive Player of the Year, and earned his seventh Pro Bowl nod and fifth All-Pro selection.

The backstory makes the trade even more striking. Garrett had requested a trade last offseason, then signed a record extension in March, yet the Rams still pried him loose.

Trading a generational defender signals a full rebuild. The Browns punted on near-term competitiveness in exchange for premium future picks and a younger, cheaper core.

The quarterback room is the biggest reason for the low rankings. Shedeur Sanders endured a rocky first year, while Deshaun Watson has been a costly disappointment.

The offense around them ranked dead last in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric for 2025. That is the unit the front office spent this spring trying to rebuild.

Cleveland leaned on youth to reset the offensive line and skill positions. Rookies Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston headline a draft class built for the long haul.

Jared Verse is the rare win-now piece in the deal. He posted 7.5 sacks in 2025 and gives the defense a foundation to build around even without Garrett.

The gap between the two rankings is small but telling. Yahoo’s No. 29 reflects a sliver more faith in the young talent, while Bleacher Report’s No. 32 reflects the immediate cost of losing a superstar.

Neither outlet expects a quick turnaround, and that is fair. This roster is clearly playing for 2027 and beyond rather than next season.

The defense will look different without its anchor. Garrett’s record-setting production created pressure that lifted the entire unit, and replacing 23 sacks is not a one-offseason project.

Verse helps, but the supporting cast is young and unproven. The pass rush that terrified offenses in 2025 now becomes a question mark for 2026.

There is a logic to the misery, though. By stockpiling first-round picks, Cleveland gives itself multiple swings at a franchise quarterback over the next two drafts.

The rookies up front matter for that plan. A rebuilt offensive line protects whoever takes snaps and gives the young skill players room to develop.

For now, last place is the honest reflection of a roster mid-teardown. The payoff, if it comes, lives a year or two down the road.

The fan base has seen rebuilds before, which raises the stakes on this one. Ownership needs the picks acquired for Garrett to become genuine building blocks rather than more lottery tickets.

Watson’s contract still looms over every decision the front office makes. Until that situation resolves, Cleveland’s financial flexibility and quarterback plan remain tangled together.

The path forward is straightforward but demanding. Cleveland must settle its quarterback situation, because no amount of draft capital will lift these rankings until the team finds stable, competent play at the game’s most important position.

Outlet	Browns Ranking
Bleacher Report	32
Yahoo Sports	29