Shedeur Sanders handed major boost with Browns QB’s replacement ‘long gone’ amid fresh head coach decision

The Cleveland Browns quarterback carousel is set to continue into 2026.

The Browns are unlikely to be in the market for a top free agent quarterback in the off-season, with Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and $230 million Deshaun Watson on the roster.

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Instead, they are reported to finally try and cement some stability at the position, having had 13 quarterbacks start under center for them since 2020.

In 2025 alone, Cleveland started three quarterbacks as they went 5-12 on the season which resulted in the firing of Kevin Stefanski as head coach on the NFL‘s ‘Black Monday.‘

This decision has been made despite the availability in free agency of one of the more notable quarterbacks in recent memory in that of former third-round pick Malik Willis.

The 26-year-old impressed late in the 2025 season for the Green Bay Packers when taking over the starting role from an injured Jordan Love in his lone start against the Baltimore Ravens.

There he completed 18-of-21 passing for 288 yards and three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing).

The four-year pro has started just six games in his career, but is now expected to be highly sought-after on the market.

Willis seems to be a no-go for the Browns

In 14 appearances for the Packers – only three of which were starts – Willis has completed 78.7 percent of his passes for 972 yards and nine total touchdowns, whilst he hasn’t fired an interception since his rookie season in 2022.

But, according to The Athletic’s Zac Jackson, the Browns’ chances of adding Willis to the fray is virtually zero.

“The thought you would get Malik Willis on a one-year, $12 million deal and give him a shot is long gone,” Jackson said in 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.”

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With Willis seemingly out of the picture, Jackson is of the belief that Sanders – who started the final seven games of the 2025 campaign – will earn the Browns starting job “by default.”

But he can’t rule out the possibility that they bring seven-year veteran Watson back into the fold as a starter at some point after his recovery from a torn Achilles injury suffered in the 2024 season.

“I’m trending towards Shedeur having first crack at this job by default,” Jackson said.

“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?

“If Mike McDaniel is the head coach here, doesn’t it feel like that?”

Browns GM Andrew Berry has a decision to make

Despite never being activated to the 53-man roster in 2025, Watson was spotted on the Browns sideline several times, speaking with Sanders and offering him advice.

In his limited practice time with Cleveland, he left an impression that could yet see him return to the action for the team next season.

“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,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said back in early January.

“Very pleased with the progress that he made in that regard.

“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.”

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With that in mind, it doesn’t appear yet that the Browns are firmly sold – like others are – on 23-year-old Sanders being their future, and could even look to select another quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft.

“I think we saw a lot of progress with Shedeur this year,” Berry added. “I think that’s both mentally, physically, playing the position.

“He’s still very much a work in progress like many rookie quarterbacks are. 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.”

Although the Browns have a decision to make over who their starting quarterback will be going forward – again – they first have to decide who will be running point as head coach.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is scheduled for a second, in-person interview for the Browns HC job on Tuesday, as is Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

But, until that position is filled and finalized, no other decisions can really be made so it will be a wait-and-see approach for the former Colorado Buffaloes star.

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