Shedeur Sanders receives $155m boost with Browns linked to Super Bowl champion wide receiver

The Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback is undecided entering NFL free agency.

What’s certain is that the Browns must improve on their 5-12 record, and the addition of a six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver could become a significant boost in 2026.

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Trading Baker Mayfield for Shedeur Sanders?

With Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel currently competing for Cleveland’s QB job, the team is seeking to improve an offense that finished next-to-last last season in average scoring (16.4 points).

Kevin Stefanski is out as head coach, while former Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken was hired as the new HC.

A direct connection between veteran wide receiver Mike Evans and Monken could give the Browns a trusted offensive weapon next season.

Evans spent two years with Monken when the current Browns head coach was Tampa Bay’s OC.

“Bucs six-time Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans is set to hit the free agent market on Monday, and the Browns are expected to be among the multiple teams interested,” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com wrote.

“Of Evans’ suitors, the Browns make more sense than some, in part because the future Hall of Famer flourished with new Browns head coach Todd Monken as his offensive coordinator in Tampa, and would welcome the opportunity to be reunited with him.”

Evans, 32, has 866 career catches for 13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns.

Super Bowl winner has Hall of Fame potential

He finished third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting after becoming the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The former Texas A&M star is entering his 13th pro season and has only played for the Bucs during his career, which featured a Super Bowl victory in 2020 while Tom Brady led Tampa Bay.

Evans appeared to be heading back to the Bucs in free agency.

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But Cleveland is in need of receiving help and Evans is seeking to rebound from an injury-impacted 2025 campaign that saw him record career lows in catches (30) and yards (368).

The 6ft 5in and 231lb Evans has earned more than $155 million during his NFL career.

Browns need serious help on offense

He made the Pro Bowl during two of the last three seasons, while being named a second-team All-Pro selection in 2023.

The Browns’ top receiver last year was tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who caught 72 balls for 731 yards.

Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy ranked second on the team in receiving yards with 602.

The lack of consistent options limited the play of Joe Flacco, Gabriel and Sanders.

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Some view Sanders as the Browns’ likely No. 1 QB but Watson is expected to be given a chance to compete for the job.

“They’re paying him so much money,” NFL Network analyst Marc Ross exclusively told talkSPORT.

“That’s the thing with Deshaun. It’s like, ‘We can’t walk away from this thing now. We’ve at least got to give it one more shot.’ ”

Cleveland could also add another quarterback via free agency, trade or the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

If Evans leaves the Bucs after 12 seasons, the highly competitive Baker Mayfield will lose one of his most trusted receiving options.

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