The Cleveland Browns traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, and that decision looked like a team heading toward a full-on rebuild. The moves Cleveland has made since, however, tell a different story. The Browns appear to believe they are soon-to-be a quarterback away from competing as a playoff team in the NFL.

After trading Garrett to the Rams, the Browns didn’t hold a full-on fire sale. Instead of trading cornerback Denzel Ward, the next longest-tenured defender on the team, Cleveland gave him a 2-year contract extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. After that, the Browns gave safety Grant Delpit his third contract, extending another veteran and showing they are not going full-on rebuild mode. Cleveland hopes it is nearing the end of its current rebuild, and finding a player to have success at the quarterback position would fulfill that goal.

Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders set to battle for starting quarterback job

The Browns are going to have Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders battle it out for the starting quarterback job this season, and they’ll see what they have between two players in very different spots. Watson is in the final year of his $230 million fully guaranteed contract, while Sanders is in the second year of his 4-year rookie deal.bSanders is trying to show he is a starter in the NFL, while Watson is playing for his next contract. How this season goes will have a major impact on both of their futures, as well as what Cleveland does at the position. 

Jadeveon Clowney interest signals competitive intent

Cleveland’s interest in signing Jadeveon Clowney is another sign that the Browns don’t believe it’s a full-on rebuild. You don’t bring in aging veterans during a rebuild. Instead, the Browns were looking to sign Clowney to fulfill a need on defense with another pass rusher to join Jared Verse, Alex Wright, and Isaiah McGuire. 

Cleveland could have let undrafted free agents Tyreak Sapp and Logan Fano battle it out for the back end of the depth at edge. Instead, the Browns tried to bring in Clowney to raise the ceiling of the entire room, and that means something. Clowney signed with the Houston Texans, but the Browns interest in him still stands. 

Jimmy Haslam’s comments put pressure on first-year coach

Jimmy Haslam made a notable comment this week, saying he would take the over on the Browns’ win total, which he believed was set at 5.5. That means the owner believes Cleveland should be winning six or more games this year. Those expectations will fall on the shoulders of first-year head coach Todd Monken to produce wins in his first season. If he can’t, he could be one and done, and the Browns will be looking for a new head coach again next March.

Cleveland has two first-round picks next April in the 2027 NFL Draft, where the Browns could land their franchise quarterback of the future if neither Watson, Sanders, nor another quarterback on the roster surprises and shows he can be part of the future plans. The most likely outcome is the Browns going in a different direction at quarterback in 2027. 

By then, Cleveland will have added even more young talent to the young pieces already on the roster. Wide receiver KC Concepcion, wide receiver Denzel Boston, and safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren join a growing core of young players in Cleveland. 

The Browns could truly be a quarterback away SOON, and the coming season will go a long way toward answering that question.