Shedeur Sanders facing demotion to third on depth chart as Browns linked with $230m QB after release
The Cleveland Browns have emerged as one of the favorites to sign Kyler Murray.
The Arizona Cardinals have decided to move on from their $230 million quarterback and will eat around $55 million in dead cap.
That makes Murray a potential bargain option as a new employer could hand him the veteran minimum and let the Cards foot the bill.
At the top of the list of potential landing spots is the New York Jets after Justin Fields was let go.
But the Browns — the proud owners of the NFL‘s most dysfunctional QB room for the last two decades — are also in the mix.
“The Browns already have Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the roster going into the offseason, but none of them are tied to the new head coach, Todd Monken,” wrote USA Today’s Nick Brinkerhoff. “The coach already admitted that he won’t name a starter at this stage, that the players will decide with their on-field performance.
“Monken, who was the offensive coordinator for Lamar Jackson with the Baltimore Ravens, has experience working with a mobile quarterback and getting the best out of him.
“Since Cleveland isn’t in a spot to draft a franchise quarterback, taking a flier on Murray might be the next best thing.”
Shedeur Sanders showed plenty of grit and determination to fight his way from fourth on the depth chart to Browns starter in his rookie season.
But despite making the Pro Bowl, his job is far from secure and new coach Todd Monken will have his own priorities.
Todd Monken confirms ‘open competition’ at QB
Murray and Malik Willis are both strong options in free agency and would slot in ahead of Sanders if the team made a move, while Anthony Richardson is a trade target.
NFL Draft prospects Ty Simpson and Carson Beck have both expressed their desire to work with Monken.
Sanders might not even be the first choice among the Browns’ current options.
Deshaun Watson is back from injury and due $46 million in guarantees, while Dillon Gabriel could strike back after being benched.
“Why wouldn’t it be an open competition?” Monken said at the combine. “I don’t mean that saying it harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years, one way or the other, to say, ‘Boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet.’ Whether internally or externally.”
“An open competition could favor Watson, whose athletic ceiling and processing ceiling each surpass those of Sanders, league talent evaluators say,” wrote Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein. “Serious injuries, as well as suspension for allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct, have sidelined Watson in recent years.
“Watson last played a full season in 2020, when he led the league with 4,823 passing yards. He played six games in 2022 and 2023 each, followed by seven in 2025.
“There should be real questions — but the parts of the game most likely to challenge him after extended time off won’t come until the regular season.”
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Former head coach Kevin Stefanski chose to rotate his quarterbacks in training camp, although the man who ended up with the job was left feeding off scraps.
Monken has indicated that he will be more decisive.
“You would hope that by the time you get to training camp, that the reps that you’re giving to a quarterback is for your starter,” he said. “Whether we get to that place, I don’t know.
“That’ll be determined in the offseason as part of it. That’s just another part of the piece.”
Whoever ends up under center will be hoping that a sensational rumor linking boyhood Browns fan Travis Kelce with a homecoming rings true.
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