The Cleveland Browns could look to bring in a new quarterback to start for the team in 2026.
Cleveland has Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson under contract for next season, but none appear to be a long-term answer for the Browns. So, the team could look at the draft, a trade, or free agency to find their next quarterback.
Browns insider Zac Jackson of The Athletic believes Cleveland could pursue veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo if the team hires Nate Scheelhaase as their next head coach.
“Over the years, the Browns have had four or five chances to pursue Jimmy Garoppolo, but they’ve never done so,” Jackson wrote. “If Scheelhaase becomes the new head coach, there’s a natural link. His two seasons of NFL coaching experience were spent with Garoppolo, who was the Rams’ primary backup.”
Garoppolo is set to be a free agent as he signed a one-year, $3.05 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams, where he worked with Scheelhaase. The 34-year-old had chances to start as he signed a five-year, $137.5 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 and a three-year, $72.75 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.
Garoppolo wouldn’t be a long-term answer for the Browns, but he could be a one or two-year stopgap, allowing Cleveland to draft a quarterback in 2027 or 2028.
Regardless, the link with Garoppolo likely comes down to whether the Browns hire Scheehaase as their next head coach, as he worked with the veteran for the past two seasons.
Browns Won’t Commit to Sanders as Starting QB
Sanders started down the stretch for the Browns and had flashes of being a decent NFL quarterback.
Yet, entering the NFL offseason, Browns general manager Andrew Berry wouldn’t commit to Sanders as their long-term answer at quarterback.
“You know, I think we saw a lot of progress with Shedeur this year,” Berry said on Jan. 5. “I think that’s both mentally, physically, playing the position. He’s still very much a work in progress like many rookie quarterbacks are. But I think we saw some really good things in terms of his playmaking. His accuracy, his ability to extend them with his feet. And I think I’d also give him credit as well as our offensive staff for bringing him along in terms of his pocket management, his situational awareness and things of that nature.
“Now that all being said, we’re going to do our work on the quarterback market. It’s too important of a position and it’s something that has to be solidified. I can’t sit here and tell you today, you know, whether the solution for or the starter in 2026 is internal or external. But it’s something that we’re going to work through over the next several weeks. And quite honestly, the new head coach will also have a lot of input into that as well.”
Sanders threw for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions this season with the Browns. He was named to the Pro Bowl on Monday in a surprising move.
Latest on Cleveland HC Search
The Browns have held a lengthy head coaching search with multiple candidates withdrawing their names.
However, a decision could be coming soon, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com as current DC Jim Schwartz is trending towards landing the job.
“One league source tells me tonight that DC Jim Schwartz seems to be gaining momentum in the Browns head coach search,” Cabot said. “Stay tuned.”
However, the Browns did interview Scheelhaase, and ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler said the team is still deciding.
“Browns’ decision appears unlikely tonight,” Fowler said. “The feeling among some involved has been that Cleveland would reconvene after the Nate Scheelhaase interview, figure things out.”
The Browns fired Kevin Stefanski after the season.
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