Oh how quickly things can change in the NFL. Looking at the Jaguars now, one would be hard-pressed to find any comparisons between them and their Week 1 opponent, the Cleveland Browns. Jacksonville is fresh off a 13-4 season in 2025, intent on making it further in the playoffs after falling to the Buffalo Bills in soul-crushing fashion last year.
Meanwhile, the Browns are coming off back-to-back sub-six win seasons and haven't had 13 or more regular-season wins since 1948, when they went 14-0 and won the championship in an eight-team league. History has a ruthless way of pantsing the Cleveland Browns.
Still, there's reason for optimism. In 2024, the Jaguars finished 4-13 and cleaned house. In came Liam Coen and company, and they hit the ground running. The hope is that the Browns' new head coach, Todd Monken, will have a similarly infectious impact on his new team, even if 13 wins is perhaps overly ambitious.
Monken's Liam Coen praise raises expectations, but Browns fans should remain patient
Monken was asked about the job Coen has done turning around the Jacksonville franchise and was effusive in his praise. In doing so, he might've told fans what he expects to do in Cleveland.
“First of all, their staff did a great job, and their personnel putting their team together and maximizing all their players’ measurable skill sets. They got the quarterback to play at a really high level. Liam [Coen]’s always been able to do that. And what they did is they pieced together. They took care of the O-line initially, they signed Patrick Mekari from us at the Ravens, that kind of solidified things."
By acknowledging the effect Liam Coen had on Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Monken is making it clear that he believes he can elevate the play of Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders, if it ever came down to that. Monken and general manager Andrew Berry also made a concerted effort to do precisely what Monken lauded Jacksonville for doing — building the offensive line — this offseason. While improvement is to be expected, there needs to be some patience as well.
See, Monken's as competitive as it gets. He's never going to admit that he can't win with the quarterbacks he's been given. We're talking about the guy who took the head coaching job at Southern Miss, for crying out loud. He clearly believes in his ability to draw up plays, scheme players open, and, ultimately, make it rain points.
While Trevor Lawrence proved redeemable, Deshaun Watson might prove too far gone to save. That shouldn't necessarily be an indictment of Monken. He inherited the mess, but he didn't create it. Try as he might, there comes a point when there's nothing you can do. He's a football coach, not a miracle worker.
Some of the game's brightest offensive minds, including Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, and Sean Payton have had rough seasons when their quarterbacks weren't up to snuff. Does this minimize their widely accepted brilliance at the controls? Of course not. That's precisely why some patience with the new coaching staff is prudent.
If the Browns are getting torched and losing games by 30 points, then by all means, sharpen the pitchforks and light the torches. It's important to realize that as long as the team is competitive, there will be growing pains. Todd Monken went from having two-time MVP Lamar Jackson as his quarterback to a player who has torn his Achilles twice in the past two years in Watson. It's going to take some time, and probably a new QB.
Even if the offense sputters, the seeds have been planted for a powerful attack. With Quinshon Judkins at running back, KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston at receiver, and Harold Fannin Jr. at tight end, the Browns' skill group is becoming respectable again. Their remade offensive line should pay dividends as well, even if first-round rookie Spencer Fano needs some time to learn the ropes. There's no savior coming at the most important position, though, at least not this year.
Fans would be best served to look for signs of effective play design and smart playcalling. Are there receivers open, even if the QB missed them? Is Monken making sensible decisions in short-yardage or critical game situations? Those are the answers to look for this year. If Monken passes his first test, he'll prove worthy of breaking in the Browns' presumed new quarterback in 2027.
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