The Cleveland Browns enter the 2026 offseason with clear offensive holes - a line that needs depth, more playmakers at receiver, and lingering uncertainty under center.
Last season's starter, Shedeur Sanders, arrived in Cleveland with a decorated college résumé but delivered a mixed rookie campaign, completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across seven starts.
While he flashed at times, the turnovers and stretches of inefficiency have fueled growing belief that the Browns should prioritize another quarterback in the draft or secure a veteran alternative, a stance echoed this week by local beat writer Scott Petrak.
“I do think quarterback is in play somewhere. I don’t know if that’s at 24 or 39 or not into the third round. Again, that depends on if they sign Malik Willis or trade for Mac Jones or whatever that veteran quarterback option is. But I think this week, everything’s on the table,” Petrak told 92.3 The Fan on Monday.
“It’s going to be heavily slanted toward offense. And when you’re talking about the offensive needs, it’s line, receiver, and a quarterback.”
Sanders was a college star who set multiple single-season records at Colorado, including a 4,134-yard campaign and a 74.0% completion rate in his final season, winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
As a result, he entered the NFL with significant expectations, though his draft slide reflected concerns about his pro readiness, pre-draft interviews, and the added spotlight that comes with being the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
Turning to the 2026 NFL Draft, the quarterback market appears top-heavy.
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is widely viewed as the class' No. 1 passer and a potential franchise cornerstone, while behind him sits a second tier that includes Ty Simpson, Carson Beck, Garrett Nussmeier, and Cade Klubnik, prospects projected anywhere from the late first round into Day 3.
If the Browns believe Sanders needs real competition, the draft offers alternatives, though outside of Mendoza, few evaluators see a clear-cut difference-maker.
Free agency provides another path. Veteran bridge candidates such as Malik Willis or experienced starters like Mac Jones could offer stability while either Sanders or a rookie continues developing.
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