The early signs of what the Cleveland Browns quarterback position is going to look like in 2026 aren’t great. If we’re going off the first preseason loss of the year against the Chicago Bears by a score of 34-10, there isn’t much to feel good about under center in Cleveland.

Deshaun Watson led a pair of scoring drives in the first half when the Browns led 10-0, but Chicago rattled off 34 straight points and Cleveland didn’t score again the rest of the game. Neither Watson nor Shedeur Sanders showed a ton to be excited about for the 2026 season, and neither has been able to separate in the quarterback battle at this point.

If history tells us anything over the last few years with Watson on the team, multiple quarterbacks are going to play in Cleveland.

Spencer Rattler trade buzz picks up after Saturday’s loss

Since Saturday’s preseason game and the quarterback struggles that came with it, there has been a lot of talk on social media from fans wanting the Browns to potentially trade for New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler. Rattler is heading into his third season as a former fifth-round pick out of South Carolina in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Rattler is the backup quarterback to Tyler Shough in New Orleans and has started 14 of the 16 games he’s played in over the last two years. He has thrown for 2,903 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions during that stretch. In 2025 for the Saints, Rattler started eight games and posted 1,586 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 6 percent of his passes.

Rattler would be another body in the quarterback room and would bring more starting experience than anyone not named Watson on the roster. The Browns would likely have to give up an early Day 3 pick at the very least for Rattler, though.

Does a Spencer Rattler trade make sense for Cleveland?

In a year where the Browns are likely not contending for the playoffs and plan to take their swing on a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, the move might not happen. Still, if Cleveland wants to give its young playmakers the best opportunity possible to showcase what they can do this season so the front office knows what it has going forward, Rattler might make sense as a trade target.

If New Orleans is totally sold on Shough and ready to move Rattler to potentially recoup the pick the Saints spent on him or get something better in return, there could be a deal to explore. Andrew Berry has never been shy about making trades, and at this point there isn’t much belief in the quarterback room.

The Browns should at least think about it if the opportunity presents itself.