The Cleveland Browns appear unlikely to be in the mix for one of the top free agent quarterbacks as they head into the offseason facing familiar uncertainty at the position.
The Browns are determined to explore every avenue this offseason to bring some semblance of stability to the quarterback position. Cleveland is coming off a 5-12 campaign where they started three different quarterbacks.
One of the more notable free agent quarterbacks that will be available this offseason is former third-round pick Malik Willis. He’s started six games in his four-year career, spending the last two as a backup with the Green Bay Packers. Willis was impressive in his lone start this season, completing 18-of-21 passes for 288 yards with three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) against the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, he went 2-0 as a spot starter with the Packers, passing for 550 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Zac Jackson of The Athletic believes that Willis is already out of the question for the Browns.
“The thought you would get Malik Willis on a one-year, $12 million deal and give him a shot is long gone,” Jackson said during an appearance on The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. “The market says he’s getting more money and more years from somebody. I don’t know if the Browns are in that position right now.”
Deshaun Watson Still in Mix for Browns
Jackson believes that Shedeur Sanders — who started the final seven games of his rookie season — will be the starter “by default” heading into next season. But he also acknowledged that Deshaun Watson could still be a factor, especially if the team brings in an offensive-minded head coach.
“I’m trending towards Shedeur having first crack at this job by default. And the other thing is — I can’t believe I’m about to say this — but doesn’t this feel like it’s setting this up to give Deshaun Watson one more chance?” Jackson said. “If Mike McDaniel is the head coach here, doesn’t it feel like that?”
Watson spent all of last season recovering from a pair of Achilles surgeries. He spent three weeks practicing with the team in December but was never activated to the 53-man roster. He still managed to make an impression.
“I’ll say we’re very pleased with how Deshaun went through and attacked his rehab this past year, how he engaged with the team, what he did in the meeting rooms. Very pleased with the progress that he made in that regard,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. “Look, I can never predict the future, but right now we do anticipate him being on the 2026 team. But we have a long way to go before we get to that point with any player.”
Browns Not Committed to Shedeur Sanders
Sanders had an up-and-down rookie season. He passed for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, but showed flashes of upside despite a lackluster supporting cast.
As the season wrapped up, Berry and the Browns did not commit to Sanders as the starter moving forward.
“I think we saw a lot of progress with Shedeur this year. I think that’s both mentally, physically, playing the position. He’s still very much a work in progress like many rookie quarterbacks are,” Berry 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.”
The Browns hold the No. 6 overall pick and are unlikely to draft a quarterback in that spot. Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick last season, remains under contract as well.
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