The Cleveland Browns are building a shiny new stadium that’s scheduled to open in 2029. The franchise heads into the 2026 season continuing its attempt to build a playoff-quality roster as part of an ongoing rebuild that the folks in charge began to embrace in early 2025.In players, and in stadiums, the Browns are preparing to move on from the old and focus on the new. It’s not that having a true contender by 2029 is a stated goal for the Browns; first-year head coach Todd Monken hopes it doesn’t take that long, and knows he likely won’t be around to coach in the new Huntington Bank Field if it does.But with the Browns in quarterback limbo again and slated to have multiple first-round draft picks in April 2027 for a second consecutive year, it’s clear that the team is focusing on creating a stronger future after starting the 2024 season with the most expensive roster in NFL history — and winning eight games over the next two seasons.Four weeks ago, the Browns traded the NFL’s reigning sack king, Myles Garrett, to the Los Angeles Rams in a deal that brought back three draft picks and defensive end Jared Verse. Browns general manager Andrew Berry had previously said the Browns likely would have one of the NFL’s youngest teams in 2026, and the Garrett trade was an acknowledgement that the Browns are mostly playing for the future — and will likely continue to skew young.Is Jared Verse a better long-term asset than Myles Garrett?Robert MaysWith the new stadium as the backdrop, let’s dive a little deeper into the latest rebuild by looking at which players might still be around in 2029. Five of the team’s six longest-tenured players from the 2025 season have moved on. The 2026 offensive line might have five starters who played elsewhere last season, and by November, the Browns could have more than 25 first- or second-year players on their 53-man roster. Last year’s team had 14 rookies on the active roster for the bulk of the season.For now, only the 10 2026 draft picks are signed through the 2029 season. Cleveland also has the rights to 2025 first-round pick Mason Graham through 2029 via the fifth-year option on Graham’s rookie deal, which, like the contracts for the team’s other 2025 draft picks, runs through 2028. Because the Browns frequently use void years to backload contracts, there are a number of players with salary-cap dead money extending to 2029. Most of those dead-cap hits are minimal and could be altered via restructures or other transactions.So, who might still be on the team when the Browns are playing home games indoors — and out of Cleveland city limits? The list of sure things is short …Jerseys in the team shopDefensive end Jared VerseThe Browns insisted on Verse being a part of the Garrett trade. They view Verse as a player who’s stylistically different than Garrett and won’t flirt with 25 sacks, but whose power and demeanor will help him become a long-time producer on the field and a leader in the locker room. Verse, 25, is under team control through 2027 with a fifth-year team option for 2028, but he is eligible to sign an extension in early 2027, and all connectable dots suggest Verse will eventually be signed to a long-term extension.Linebacker Carson SchwesingerThe Browns had Schwesinger at the formal stadium groundbreaking ceremony in May and view the 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year as a face-of-the-franchise type player. Schwesinger, 23, is still two seasons from being extension-eligible, but as long as he’s healthy, the team believes he will continue to ascend and be a major part of all long-term roster planning.Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Fannin flashed impressive skills as a third-round rookie in 2025, leading the team with 72 receptions for 731 yards and six touchdowns. Though Fannin has room for improvement in his all-around game, he’s athletic enough to find open space and strong enough to bully smaller defenders after the catch. Due to a groin injury that ended his rookie season a week early, Fannin did not participate in team activities this spring. He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp and should have a big role again. Fannin turns 22 the week before training camp begins.The 2026 rookiesIt’s not exactly bold to guess that Fannin could again lead the team in targets and touchdown catches in 2026, but the Browns feel good about the upgrades they’ve made to the receiving corps. 2026 first-round wide receiver KC Concepcion and second-round wide receiver Denzel Boston will both play immediately, and Boston was probably the standout player of the spring. All 10 drafted rookies are signed through 2029, but let’s see some actual games before we go too far down the road with any of them. If the Browns found four (or more) keepers, that would be a strong draft class.The immediate question(s)Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward, left, and safety Grant Delpit could be long-term fixtures or trade chips. (Brooke Sutton / AP)Safety Grant Delpit Delpit is entering the final year of his contract and wants a new deal ahead of his age-28 season. The Browns probably face a decision: either commit to and extend Delpit now while he’s coming off his best season, or explore potential trade options as part of the youth movement. Delpit has been a locker room leader and was the team’s 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, a prestigious honor that acknowledges a player’s efforts on the field and in the community. But the selection of safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round paired with the need to spend on offense in the coming offseasons makes this decision complicated.Cornerback Denzel WardWard is signed through 2027, his age-30 season. If Delpit signs a new contract this summer, it will likely extend to (or beyond) 2029. But if the team fully embraces a forward-facing approach, it could look to trade Delpit and five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Ward sometime between July and November’s trade deadline. Though Delpit and Ward have both been the kind of players and people the Browns would love to have on the roster well into the future, it’s unlikely that the team’s current longest-tenured players would be in the roster plans for 2029 — and it’s no certainty that either will finish 2026 in Cleveland.The offensive lineThe team’s first and most significant offseason investments were in the offensive line, with the free-agent signings of Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, a trade (and extension) for Tytus Howard, and the drafting of two tackles, starting with Spencer Fano at No. 9 in the first round. Third-round tackle Austin Barber will compete this summer for the swing tackle job and also take some reps at right guard, while fifth-round center Parker Brailsford is penciled in as the No. 2 center with a possibility of getting a real chance to compete for the starting job in the preseason.Fano turns 22 in November and is slated to become the team’s long-term left tackle; the Browns currently have his rights through 2030 via the fifth-year option. Howard, 30, and Johnson, 26, are signed through 2028, while Jenkins, 30, is signed through 2027. Johnson could eventually be extended if things work out; Johnson and Howard both carry dead money into 2029 on their current contracts.Sensible long-term picksRunning back Quinshon Judkins Judkins is undoubtedly a talented runner — and undoubtedly the team’s clear lead runner for now. Even with the wide receiver upgrades, if the offense is going to have any kind of success in 2026, Judkins figures to be a big part of that. But the 22-year-old is coming off a broken fibula and dislocated ankle that ended his rookie season, and though the Browns have big plans and high hopes for him, it’s impossible to say he’ll be part of the team’s longer-term schemes until we know that Judkins can stay healthy while being asked to carry a significant load.Defensive tackle Mason GrahamGraham had a strong rookie season, and he’s certainly in the team’s plans. It’s too early to say that Graham can become the consistently disruptive defensive tackle who draws double-teams and earns a top-of-market extension, but as long as he’s healthy and playing well, he figures to still be on the team in 2029.Cornerback Tyson CampbellBerry made a strong, future-focused trade last October in moving cornerback Greg Newsome II — whose contract was set to expire — to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Campbell after the Jaguars’ defensive philosophy switch made the 2021 second-rounder expendable. Campbell, 26, had signed a second contract with Jacksonville and now has a chance to earn another new deal in Cleveland. With Campbell’s base salary set to jump from $1.6 million in 2026 to $15 million in 2027, the Browns are positioned to rework his deal if they see him in their long-term plans. The Browns have Campbell under contract through 2028 and can decide over the next six to 12 months whether they see him as their No. 1 cornerback for the foreseeable future.The definite maybesFor defensive linemen Alex Wright, left, and Adin Huntington, the long-term future in Cleveland is far from clear. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images)Defensive end Alex WrightThe Browns extended Wright last November before he could become eligible to hit the open market. It was a solid, sensible move that had nothing to do with Garrett’s status or any trade options. Wright is a good player at a premium position, and the team believes the 2022 third-round pick could continue to improve. For now, Wright is signed through 2028 and carries $14.4 million of dead money into 2029.Wright turns 26 in September, and if he plays well over the next season-plus, he becomes a candidate for another extension depending on how things shake out with the rest of the defensive line group — and how much money Verse eventually gets. Isaiah McGuire, who opens camp as the No. 3 defensive end, is only signed through 2026. McGuire could be a trade candidate unless he plays his way into the team’s future plans.Quarterback Shedeur SandersLet’s check back in, say, in late November. And then again in January. Sanders is going to get a chance to play in 2026 even if he doesn’t win the starting job in training camp, and the Browns should want to have a full evaluation of his skill set and upside before they fully embark upon the presumed next step of their perpetual quarterback search in early 2027.Safety Ronnie Hickman The former undrafted free agent has become a starter and should again play a significant role in his age-25 season. But the Browns face a big decision with Delpit, have high hopes for McNeil-Warren and have Hickman under contract only for 2026 on a restricted free-agent tender. Obviously, Hickman has a huge season directly ahead.Defensive tackle Adin HuntingtonHuntington made the team as an undrafted rookie last year. His quickness off the snap made an early impression and led the Browns to trade Jowon Briggs in August to clear a spot for Huntington, who also played on special teams and took on a part-time fullback role. It’s too early to know exactly how the new staff will use Huntington, but there’s a path for him to go from the bottom of the roster to a long-term contributor. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins is headed to his age-31 season and the final year of his contract.Wide receiver Isaiah BondBond, 22, signed a three-year deal last August and played right away despite only having about a week of full training camp with the Browns. Bond showed flashes as a big-play threat, and he came back this spring a stronger and more confident player. There’s no guarantee he’ll continue to ascend, but Bond is another young player the Browns are hoping will become a consistent contributor.Notable Browns players currently eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2027 include Delpit, QB Deshaun Watson, Collins, McGuire, Hickman, OT Dawand Jones, P Corey Bojorquez, C Luke Wypler, WR Cedric Tillman, WR Tylan Wallace, DT Kalia Davis and TE Jack Stoll.