Owner Jimmy Haslam has high hopes for his Cleveland Browns this season, saying he believes the team will exceed expectations.
"I think the odds (on the season win total) are for us to win 5.5 games. I'd take the over," Haslam told reporters Friday at training camp, according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson.
He added, "We want to be a contending playoff team in 2027. That doesn't mean we can't make it in '26."
Cleveland has failed to win more than five games in each of the last two seasons, posting an 8-26 record during that stretch. The franchise has also made the playoffs just twice in the last 23 campaigns.
The starting quarterback battle between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson has been the biggest focus at the Browns' training camp, as both signal-callers are splitting first-team reps during practices, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.
Sanders started the final seven games in 2025, throwing for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Although the former fifth-round pick showed promising flashes, he finished last in passer rating (68.1) out of 35 quarterbacks with at least 210 attempts, according to TruMedia.
Watson, returning from a twice-torn Achilles injury, hasn't played a snap since October 2024. He's entering the final season of a five-year, $230-million fully guaranteed contract signed in 2022 and has gone just 9-10 as Cleveland's starter since joining the club in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans. Out of 40 qualifying signal-callers since 2022, Watson ranks 39th in EPA/play, behind only Zach Wilson.
The Browns are currently in a transition period after trading star pass-rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and draft capital, including a 2027 first-round selection.
"It was not an easy decision to trade Myles," Haslam said, per Jackson. "But we've made it, and we're moving on. We're excited about (Verse) and those three picks. I think we've seen the last two years the value of having those high picks."
Cleveland opens its season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13.
