The departures of Myles Garrett and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz left a massive void on the Browns' defense, but one analyst believes Cleveland has done enough to reload and is already warning the rest of the league to take notice.

“The Browns own the Defensive Rookie of the Year from each of the last two seasons in LB Carson Schwesinger in 2025 and DE Jared Verse in 2024. In addition, Cleveland ranked No. 4 overall in defensive yards allowed per game last season, allowing 263.8 YPG. They finished No. 1 in defensive yards allowed per game in 2024. Just sayin,” wrote NFL analyst Marc Lawrence on X.

While the Browns brought in Jared Verse, a two-time Pro Bowler with 12 sacks and 124 tackles, to replace Garrett, questions remain over whether he can truly fill the void.

Verse has impressed early, but matching Garrett's 23-sack season remains a steep climb.

On top of that, former Atlanta Falcons defensive passing game coordinator Mike Rutenberg replaces Jim Schwartz as the Browns' new defensive coordinator.

Cleveland has added All-Pro linebacker Quincy Williams to the team, uniting him with his former position coach, Mike Rutenberg.

Additionally, the front office has drafted promising safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft to bolster the defense.

The additions will join returning linemen Mason Graham and Alex Wright, and defensive backs Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Myles Harden, Grant Delpit, and Ronnie Hickman to give the Browns one of the most stacked defenses in the league.

However, while Marc believes other teams should remain cautious, another analyst believes the Browns have a team they need to watch out for.

Analyst warns the Cleveland Browns of early-season trap game

While the Browns cannot afford to underestimate anyone, analyst Tim Bielik of Cleveland.com believes one early opponent deserves more attention. The insider cautioned the Browns not to underestimate the Carolina Panthers in their Week 3 showdown.

“Carolina was the surprise team of the NFC last season, winning the NFC South at 8-9 and giving the Rams quite the challenge in the NFC wild-card game,” wrote Bielik on Cleveland.com.

Despite finishing below .500, Carolina captured its division and nearly stunned the Los Angeles Rams in a thrilling 34-31 Wild Card battle. This just proves that the Browns cannot afford to take the Panthers lightly.

The Browns will face them in Week 3 after opening the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Given that, what is your opinion about the Cleveland Browns' defense? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore