Cleveland Browns’ quarterback plan became much more clear at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, and it could mean bad news for Shedeur Sanders
Cleveland isn’t comfortable with its quarterback position and change is coming.
The Cleveland Browns have a lot to work through over the next couple of months and they completed one task by adding a player via trade to start the week.
Tytus Howard is expected to come in and be Cleveland’s starting right tackle. The Browns still have a lot to work through with who is going to man the other four spots on the offensive line.
Cleveland’s most important question this offseason is who will start at quarterback. Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel are on the roster — but it’s not going to stop the Browns from adding to the room.
The Browns are poised to add another quarterback and it doesn’t bode well for Shedeur Sanders
Sanders is the young quarterback on the team with the best chance to be the Week 1 starter next year. If the Browns were to add another quarterback in the draft a year younger than Sanders in terms of roster control, it would be bad news for the former fifth-round pick.
According to our own Rob Gregson who was fishing out information from sources at the NFL combine, the Browns are adding another quarterback, it’s just a matter of which avenue they travel to get it done.
“Despite spending two draft picks on a quarterback in 2025 and having Deshaun Watson with an $80 million cap hit for 2026, Cleveland will be considering adding another veteran or going back to the well in the NFL Draft. Both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders started games and showed some flashes in 2025, but with Kevin Stefanski out and Todd Monken in the offense could be in for a makeover, starting with the man under center.” — Rob Gregson
Sanders made seven starts for the Browns as a rookie and held a 3-4 record. The 7-10 touchdown to interception ratio was a major negative on Sanders’ rookie season with the Browns. Sanders showed flashes in 2025, but not enough for the Browns to be comfortable.
The Browns aren’t in the running for Fernando Mendoza and spending $25 million or more on Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis feels like a risk Cleveland can’t afford to take at this point. Trading for a Geno Smith or signing Jacoby Brissett feels like it would make sense for the Browns on the veteran front.
If Cleveland wants a quarterback in the draft, they’re looking at spending a Day 2 or Day 3 pick to get it done. Names to monitor will be Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Penn State’s Drew Allar, and Miami’s Carson Beck.
Bringing in more competition at quarterback is a must with how the Browns have seen the position play out over the last couple of years. We’ll see what Cleveland does this time around.
Cleveland Browns News
Browns’ 3-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland has a clear direction they need to go following Andrew Berry’s first trade of the offseason
A fresh new mock draft for the Cleveland Browns coming away from the combine.
