Cleveland Browns Between A Rock And A Hard Place At Qb In 2026

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 10: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during Cleveland Browns mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Browns find themselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place when it comes to their quarterback situation in 2026.

At one point it seemed clear that the Browns were going to use the first of their two first-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft on a quarterback. But that plan fell by the wayside late in the season when wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were more concerned about defensive end Myles Garrett’s quest for the sack record than trying to win, and the Cincinnati Bengals, behind a legendary offensive explosion that netted six points, knocked the Browns from the No. 1 overall slot to No. 6.

Further complicating the issue is a draft class that is extremely thin after presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza of Indiana. With Dante Moore returning to Oregon for another season, and Trinidad Chambliss doing all he can to play another season at Mississippi, the idea of the Browns selecting a quarterback in the first round should be off the table. And even selecting one on Day 2 seems like a bad use of draft assets.

So where does that leave the team? Unless general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Todd Monken decide it is a good idea to get into a bidding war for Green Bay quarterback Malik Willis, who has made six starts in four seasons, the Browns appear poised to run it back with the same crew this fall.

That means more of Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, who as rookies ranked No. 38 and No. 39, respectively, out of 42 qualified quarterbacks in completion rate over expected, according to Next Gen Stats. Sanders and Gabriel also combined to commit 25 turnover-worthy plays to only 13 big-time throws, according to Pro Football Focus. Throw in Joe Flacco’s four starts at the beginning of the season, and Cleveland’s quarterbacks were responsible for a 46.5 PFF passing grade last season, the lowest of any team.

But wait! There is another quarterback in the mix, allegedly, in veteran Deshaun Watson, who was last seen on the field in Week 7 of the 2024 season, when he suffered the first of two torn Achilles’ tendon injuries.

Because of salary cap reasons that at this point are too exhausting to rehash, Watson is going to be on the roster again this season. But does that mean he is going to be in play now that Monken is calling the shots?

That all depends on whether or not Monken likes a quarterback who:

• Was ranked No. 33 out of 33 starting quarterbacks in OBR in 2024
• Has been sacked 70 times in the 19 games he has played with the Browns
• Has thrown 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in those 19 games
• Makes the idea of another season with Sanders and or Gabriel on the field seem palatable

Terry Pluto at cleveland.com shared what he has been hearing about the quarterback situation in his latest column, pointing out that no decision has been made about the starter’s role for the upcoming season (despite the hug seen around the world between Monken and Sanders), and the “sense” is that the Browns view Gabriel as a backup rather than a starter.

As for Watson:

Watson is going to be on the roster in 2026. The Browns want a veteran QB. Monken is insisting everyone gets a fresh start with him, so he’ll look at Watson. That said, keep in mind Watson is coming off two Achilles surgeries, a major shoulder operation on his throwing arm and he also had ACL knee surgery in 2017.

It’s one thing to look good throwing the ball in practice. It’s another to thrive in a game where people are trying to tackle you.

The party line is Watson was a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback. That’s true. But the last time he had a good year was 2020. That’s five years ago. A lot has happened in Watson’s life since then.

I don’t buy the argument that the offense of coach Kevin Stefanski was the main reason Watson failed. The injuries were a factor. He also was under a lot of stress given all the circumstances of him coming to Cleveland.

It is still early in the process, so there is no telling what will take place between now and the season opener in September regarding the quarterback position.

But if Monken is as knowledgeable about offensive football as he appears to be, there should be no way that he looks at the 2026 version of Watson and thinks, “that’s my guy!” given everything that has gone on since Watson arrived in town.