The 2018 season was the Cleveland Browns' 66th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 70th overall, their first full season under general manager John Dorsey, and their third and final season under head coach Hue Jackson. This for the first time since 2006 that Joe Thomas was not on the opening day roster. Unusually, the Browns started their campaign with a tie, although this result was enough to ensure they would improve upon the 2017 campaign in which they finished 0–16. Cleveland ultimately finished in 3rd place in the AFC North with a record of 7–8–1, their best record since the 2007 season. However, they missed the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season, having last made the playoffs in 2002.
On September 9, the Browns opened their season against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 21–21 tie. This was the Browns' first tie since 1989, and it ended a 17-game losing streak which dated back to the 2016 season. On September 20, the Browns defeated the New York Jets 21–17, ending a 19-game winless streak.
On October 29, Jackson was fired after posting a record of 2–5–1 through Week 8 and an overall record of 3–36–1 during his two and a half seasons in Cleveland. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who was in his first season with the Browns, was fired the same day. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was named interim head coach. Under Williams, the Browns went 5–3 to finish out the season.
Rookie starting quarterback Baker Mayfield threw 27 touchdown passes, breaking the record for the most touchdown passes thrown by a rookie quarterback. The previous record of 26 was shared by Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson, and it was later broken in 2020 by Justin Herbert.
Offseason
Front office changes On January 2, new general manager John Dorsey hired Green Bay Packers personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith as vice president of football operations.
On January 10, the Browns announced several front office hirings: Eliot Wolf as assistant general manager, Jimmy Noel as assistant director of pro scouting, Matt Donahoe as a scout, and Dan Zegers as personnel coordinator. The Browns also announced that former vice president of player personnel Ken Kovash would switch to a role within the strategy department, and fired senior personnel executive Ryan Grigson.
Coaching changes On January 10, the Browns released special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. He had been the longest-tenured coach on the Browns, with the team since 2011.
On January 11, the Browns hired Adam Henry as wide receivers coach, a position he held with the New York Giants since 2016. Former wide receivers coach Al Saunders transitioned into a senior advisory role.
On January 12, the Browns hired Ken Zampese as quarterbacks coach. They also fired running backs coach/run game coordinator Kirby Wilson, special teams assistant Shawn Mennenga, and special teams quality control coach Stan Watson.
On January 24, the Browns hired Amos Jones as special teams coordinator, Todd Haley as offensive coordinator, and Freddie Kitchens as running backs/assistant head coach.
On February 8, the Browns hired Sam Shade as assistant special teams coach.
On March 9, the Browns hired former return specialist Josh Cribbs as special teams intern.
Roster changes
Re-signings Position Player Tag Date ILB Tank Carder UFA March 27 WR Josh Gordon ERFA March 14 WR Matt Hazel ERFA March 14 QB Kevin Hogan ERFA March 14 TE Matt Lengel ERFA March 14 DT Jamie Meder RFA March 14 C Austin Reiter ERFA March 14 FB Danny Vitale ERFA March 14UFA=Unrestricted free agent, RFA=Restricted free agent, ERFA=Exclusive rights free agent
Players added
Position Player Tag 2017 team Date CB T. J. Carrie UFA Oakland Raiders March 14 TE Orson Charles UFA Kansas City Chiefs July 30 TE Darren Fells UFA Detroit Lions March 14 CB E. J. Gaines UFA Buffalo Bills March 23 T Chris Hubbard UFA Pittsburgh Steelers March 14 RB Carlos Hyde UFA San Francisco 49ers March 14 WR Jarvis Landry TradeThe Browns acquired WR Jarvis Landry from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2018 fourth-round selection (No. 123) and a 2019 seventh-round selection Miami Dolphins March 14 DT Devaroe Lawrence TradeThe Browns acquired DT Devaroe Lawrence from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 2019 seventh-round draft pick New Orleans Saints September 1 CB Terrance Mitchell UFA Kansas City Chiefs March 14 S Damarious Randall TradeThe Browns acquired S Damarious Randall, a 2018 fourth-round selection (No. 114), and a 2018 fifth-round selection (No. 150) from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for QB Deshone Kizer, a 2018 fourth-round selection (No. 101), and a 2018 fifth-round selection (No. 138) Green Bay Packers March 14 T Greg Robinson UFA Detroit Lions June 19 LB Brady Sheldon Waiver Oakland Raiders June 13 DE Chris Smith UFA Cincinnati Bengals March 14 QB Drew Stanton UFA Arizona Cardinals March 25 QB Tyrod Taylor TradeThe Browns acquired QB Tyrod Taylor from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2018 third-round selection (No. 65) Buffalo Bills March 14 G Earl Watford UFA Arizona Cardinals August 28
Players lost
Position Player Tag 2018 team Date LB Dominique Alexander Release May 3 LB B. J. Bello Release Arizona Cardinals September 1 LB Max Bullough Release April 12 DE Caleb Brantley Release Washington Redskins September 1 LB Tank Carder Release June 5 WR Corey Coleman TradeThe Browns acquired a 2020 seventh-round selection from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for WR Corey Coleman Buffalo Bills August 5 T Shon Coleman TradeThe Browns acquired a 2019 seventh-round selection from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for T Shon Coleman San Francisco 49ers August 31 RB Isaiah Crowell UFA New York Jets March 14 RB Matthew Dayes Release San Francisco 49ers September 1 T Spencer Drango Release Los Angeles Chargers September 1 TE Gavin Escobar Release Miami Dolphins April 12 T Geoff Gray Release Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) August 28 WR Matt Hazel Release Indianapolis Colts April 30 QB Kevin Hogan TradeThe Browns acquired a 2018 sixth-round selection (No. 188) from the Washington Redskins in exchange for QB Kevin Hogan and a 2018 sixth-round selection (No. 205) Washington Redskins April 6 WR Bug Howard Release Carolina Panthers April 12 RB Darius Jackson Release Dallas Cowboys May 3 T Roderick Johnson Release Houston Texans June 19 CB Mike Jordan Release New York Giants September 1Mike Jordan, CB for the New York Giants QB Cody Kessler TradeThe Browns acquired a conditional 2019 seventh-round selection from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for QB Cody Kessler Jacksonville Jaguars March 27 OLB Josh Keyes UFA Houston Texans March 20 QB DeShone Kizer Trade Green Bay Packers March 14 TE Matt Lengel Release Houston Texans April 12 G Marcus Martin UFA Dallas Cowboys March 26 CB Jason McCourty TradeThe Browns acquired a 2018 sixth-round selection (No. 205) rom the New England Patriots in exchange for CB Jason McCourty and a 2018 seventh-round draft selection (No. 219) New England Patriots March 15 S Kai Nacua Release Baltimore Ravens April 30 DE Nate Orchard Release Buffalo Bills September 1 WR Larry Pinkard Release April 12 CB Reggie Porter Release April 20 DT Danny Shelton TradeThe Browns acquired a 2019 third-round selection from the New England Patriots in exchange for DT Danny Shelton and a 2018 fifth-round selection (No. 159) New England Patriots March 14 CB C. J. Smith Release Denver Broncos April 12 S Derron Smith Release San Antonio Commanders (AAF) August 31 CB Jamar Taylor TradeThe Browns acquired a 2020 sixth-round selection from the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for CB Jamar Taylor Arizona Cardinals May 19 RB Kelvin Taylor Release Orlando Apollos (AAF) April 12 TE Randall Telfer Release Indianapolis Colts May 4 T Joe Thomas Retired March 14 CB Simeon Thomas Release Seattle Seahawks September 1Report: Seahawks claim G Jordan Simmons, CB Simeon Thomas CB Corey White Release April 20 WR Kasen Williams Release Indianapolis Colts April 30
Trade notes
Players added and lost The Browns added and released the following players during the 2018 off-season:
2018 draft class
Undrafted free agents 2018 Cleveland Browns UDFA Player Position College Signed Cut Drew Bailey DT Louisville May 1 August 28 Stephen Baggett TE East Carolina August 18 August 31 Evan Berry WR Tennessee May 1 August 28 Christian Boutte CB Nicholls July 30 August 31 D.J. Calhoun LB Arizona State May 1 August 27Alliance of American Football signs former ASU players Mike Bercovici, D.J. Calhoun Elijah Campbell S Northern Iowa May 1 August 31 Christian DiLauro T Illinois May 1 September 1 Daniel Ekuale DT Washington State May 1 September 1 Marcell Frazier * DE Missouri May 18 August 28 DeMarquis Gates LB Ole Miss May 22 June 14 Micah Hannemann S BYU May 1 August 18 Desmond Harrison T West Georgia May 1 Zaycoven Henderson DT Texas A&M May 1 September 1 Blake Jackson WR Mary Hardin–Baylor July 28Blake Jackson signs with Cleveland Browns August 31 Montrel Meander S Grambling State May 1 September 1 Brogan Roback QB Eastern Michigan May 14 August 28 Da'Mari Scott WR Fresno State May 1 September 1 Trenton Thompson DT Georgia May 1 July 30 Derrick Willies WR Texas Tech May 1 Blaine Woodson * DT Delaware August 15 August 31 Erick Wren C Oklahoma May 1 July 28Chargers sign G Erick WrenA green background indicates the player made the Browns' Week 1 53-man roster
* Browns claimed player off waivers after he signed as an undrafted free agent with another team and was waived.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Browns opened training camp on July 26. The Browns' training camp and preseason was featured on the HBO series Hard Knocks.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New York Giants W 20–10 1–0 MetLife Stadium Recap 2 Buffalo Bills L 17–19 1–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 Philadelphia Eagles W 5–0 2–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 4 at Detroit Lions W 35–17 3–1 Ford Field Recap
Notes WR Josh Gordon did not report to the beginning of training camp as part of his "overall health and treatment plan." He returned to the team on August 18. On August 29, federal charges were brought against LB Mychal Kendricks for insider trading, in which he allegedly made $1.2 million in profits on illegal trades made between 2014 and 2017. The team released Kendricks on August 30.
Roster cuts The Browns waived the following players between August 28 and September 1 to get their roster down to the 53-player maximum.
The Browns also traded T Shon Coleman and acquired DT Devaroe Lawrence in a separate trade.
On September 2, the Browns added DT Carl Davis, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, C Aaron Neary, LB Tanner Vallejo, and Tavierre Thomas, who were all waived by their former teams. To make room on the roster, the Browns waived LB Jermaine Grace, CB Jeremiah McKinnon, DT Jamie Meder, DE Carl Nassib, and C Austin Reiter.
On September 3, the Browns signed Ekuale, Henderson, Hilliard, G Kyle Kalis, TE Pharoah McKever, McKinnon, Meander, Scott, T Brad Seaton, and Shelton to their practice squad. Sankoh, who is part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program, was also added to the practice squad and does not count toward its 10-player limit.
Regular season
Schedule