Shedeur Sanders sends emotional message to departing Browns teammate and suffers fresh blow amid rebuild

The Cleveland Browns are set for an offensive overhaul in 2026.

With the third-worst offense in the NFL last season, ahead of only the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans, major changes need to be made if the Ohio-based franchise wants to be competitive again.

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Much of the attention in the past 10 months has been on the quarterback position, with rookie Shedeur Sanders eventually winning the starting spot having been buried on the depth chart.

The plan for 2026 has not yet been confirmed, but if Sanders retains his role next season, he will have to work without some familiar faces.

Cleveland Browns veteran confirms decision to move on

On Wednesday, longtime right guard Wyatt Teller confirmed he will not be returning to the Browns in 2026.

The veteran, 31, made 94 of his 101 career starts in Cleveland and was named to three Pro Bowls, as well as three All-Pro teams, across seven seasons.

However, he was mysteriously benched by former head coach Kevin Stefanski in Week 13, and sat out three more games for an injury-hit roster after that, having suffered a calf injury.

Teller will now hit free agency, and shared a message to Browns fans ahead of his departure.

“I wish things were different and this is hard to put into words. When Buffalo traded me to Cleveland seven years ago, I never could have imagined how much this city would mean to me,” he wrote on social media.

“Ultimately, the Browns took a chance on me that changed the trajectory of my life forever.

“While we are excited and look forward to what the future holds, Cleveland will always have a special place in our hearts.”

Teller’s departure comes as a blow to Sanders, who offered a four-word response to his departing teammate.

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“Gonna miss you bro,” he replied, adding a sad face to his message.

Teller is likely the first domino to fall along the Browns’ offensive line, and Sanders is set to work with a completely new set of protectors when he returns to practice.

Browns could lose five O-line starters to free agency

Center Ethan Pocic, tackle Jack Conklin, and guard Joel Bitonio — who were all named by PFF as the best performing players in the Browns O-line in 2025 — are expected to hit unrestricted free agency.

Left tackle Cam Robinson is also expected to depart as an unrestricted free agent, meaning there will be significant turnover up front for an offense that has already lost a big weapon in tight end David Njoku.

All those departures, and the uncertainty that brings, will no doubt be frustrating for any quarterback.

However, given PFF ranked the Browns O-line as the second-worst in the NFL last season (ahead of the Raiders), those departures offer an opportunity to build back stronger.

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General manager Andrew Berry hinted last month that the unit could look very different heading into 2026.

“I think the reality of it is a year ago, when we decided to make the pivot that we did, you also realize that you’re not going to be able to accomplish everything at once for the roster,” he said after HC Stefanski was fired.

“The offensive line, that’s a position group that I do imagine will have a fair amount of turnover as we go into 2026.

“But we also do feel like it was important this year, and quite honestly going into next year, to give young players snaps if we’re ultimately going to build the core and foundation that we need to win perennially.”

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The next few months will be important for the Browns, but only time will tell if Berry can build an offense capable of improving on a 5-12 record in 2025, or if it will be another rocky season in Cleveland.

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