CLEVELAND, Ohio (TheOBR.com) Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans! I hope you’re having a great morning despite the unending cold we’re facing in Northeast Ohio. March is coming, and hopefully winter will loosen its grip over the next month.
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
After my survey of feeds, reports, and sites, I’ve got a side tab bar full of Cleveland Browns stories for today’s OBR Daily Newswire. That’s usually a sign that this Massive Morning Missive is going to be a series of bullet points as I try to cover as many items of Browns-related silliness as I can to make use of the four dozen tabs I have open.
But before I get to miscellaneous Browns news, clickbait, and other assorted mischief, let’s talk about the Browns’ unsettled quarterback situation.
The team ended the 2025 season with Shedeur Sanders at the helm as Sanders, like Dillon Gabriel before him, put up atrocious numbers for an NFL quarterback. On those charts of quarterback effectiveness, where the good quarterbacks have dots at the upper right, the Browns quarterbacks were firmly planted in the lower left. Part of this, of course, was not their fault, as they had to helm a team with an offensive line in tatters and a wide receiver corps that frightened exactly no one. With the team seemingly intent on addressing those two issues in the off-season, one would hope that the improvement in quarterback life would be tangible, with Shedeur Sanders being the beneficiary.
Still, Sanders is a fifth-round pick who showed moxie and an earnest desire to learn and improve, but still wasn’t enough to put the team on his shoulders and make Iberco pork out of spam. He’s the default solution for the Browns in 2026, a prospect that isn’t inspiring enough to quell various rumors and chatter about the game’s most important position.
As a result, quarterback names are being thrown around all over the place this offseason, with Packers’ backup Malik Willis having the starring role due to the fact that he’s the only really intriguing name on the market. Stories about Willis were all the rage yesterday, with commentators offering that some cart-before-the-horse analysis, arguing that the Browns’ signing Willis would be a death knell for Sanders’ tenure in Cleveland and any notion of a 2026 quarterback battle. Both analyses are probably correct if Willis signs a big deal with the Browns and offers himself to be the team’s 40th-or-whatever quarterback in a grim 25-year march to nowhere. There’s even chatter about the Browns dealing up with the also quarterback-desperate Las Vegas Raiders for Fernando Mendoza.
Frankly, the Browns look at any possible solution to the quarterback problem, but that doesn’t mean they’re in a position to do anything about it.
I generally stay out of the firm prediction mode in these columns because I hate leaving behind evidence of how wrong-headed I can be, but I will say this: Neither Malik Willis nor Fernando Mendoza is going to be walking through the front door at Berea later this year while an excited team staffer snaps their picture and throws out an excited social media post. Willis has too many options to resign himself to Cleveland, and Mendoza would cost a mountain of assets that the Browns might have but wouldn’t be willing to deal while managing a team with so many glaring offensive needs.
If you’re looking for a notable new Browns quarterback to light up pre-season enthusiasm, you’re likely out of luck. With Deshaun Watson uselessly occupying a roster spot and a huge portion of the team’s salary cap, and the Browns with so many holes to fill, they’re going to be all about value. They need plenty of low-cost, high-potential players to fill out a vacant offensive line and a limping wide receiver corps. They also have some defensive needs to address, including a potential issue at linebacker, and depth needs at corner, safety and defensive tackle.
Value. This off-season is going to be all about cheap rookie contracts and young, promising players who are either buried on their current teams, coming back from injuries, or represent realized potential. The team’s cap situation isn’t going to necessarily force them to root around the bargain bin; the notion of luring Willis or spending a ton of picks to grab Mendoza both seems beyond them. The Arizona Cardinals are rumored to be a stronger contender for Willis.
Last night’s Gang of Three allowed me to throw bad takes and insipid ideas at a couple of knowledgeable fellows, Pete Smith and Lane Adkins. The quarterback talk quickly turned from Willis and Mendoza to effective veterans who might have gas left in the tank. Geno Smith of the Raiders (who was surrounded by a horrible team last year) and stalwart journeyman Jacoby Brissett are two names that came up. Well, Geno comes up whenever I talk to Pete about 2026 quarterback options, but Brissett surprised me when I learned he’s just 33, given that it seems like he’s been around forever.
I guess what I’m saying is that the media will focus on interesting possibilities like Willis or Mendoza because that will attract readers and listeners, but I don’t consider either to be a strong possibility for the Browns. Concerned as I always am about the mental health prognosis for Browns fans who have been bashed over the head with disappointment, mediocrity and failure for a quarter of a century, don’t be surprised if any QB added is a value selection with extensive experience, lured by the chance to start and compete with Sanders.
Hang in there. I think the long-term answer will have to wait until 2027, although I’m sure the Browns will sniff around every possibility to improve immediately. It’s just that sniffing is likely to lead to nothing.
IN OTHER NEWS:
– The Browns’ extensive ledger of coaches and other football personnel now includes a nickel corner coach. Jeff Anderson continues his progress through the coaching ranks by nabbing the role after being blocked from talking to the Titans about a similar position.
– The usual suspects are back with click-ready off-season fantasies of blockbuster trades, such as the Browns dealing away future Hall of Fame defensive end Myles Garrett for a boatload of draft picks and, one presumes, another really bad record in 2026. Not gonna happen. The team will not completely tear down. Regardless, the sportsbooks are setting the Browns’ likely record in 2026 as involving double-digit losses again.
– Rumors about the Cowboys dealing away picks (perhaps to trade up to #6 to nab Caleb Downs) are still out there, despite the fact that the Cowboys are in much the same situation as the Browns with salary cap challenges and the need for a lot of cheap talent to make a go of it.
– Expect Ty Simpson’s name to continue to appear. Lane said last night that he expects Simpson to be a better pro than a college player, and Simpson has addressed concerns about his frame by recently putting on mass after a battle with gastritis in 2025.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
OBR GOODIES
OBR VIDEO
- The Gang of Three Braces for the Combine
- Wyatt Teller talks after the 2023 victory over the Ravens
OBR ARTICLES
- Cleveland Browns Offensive Free Agency Preview - Strengths & Weaknesses (Jack)
- Two Day Three Slot Receivers for Cleveland Browns in the NFL Draft (Pete)
- Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 02/23/26: Yes, Virginia, the Defense Needs Attention, Too (Barry)
- Cleveland Browns Film Room: Can Todd Monken Use Jerry Jeudy Like Zay Flowers? (Sam)
FROM THE FORUMS
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
- Pete: Follow up on Center reply
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- Cade Mays Or Connor McGovern
- Thoughts on how many Offensive Linemen and Wide receivers
THE WATERCOOLER
-Cleveland Browns Offensive Free Agency Preview - Strengths & Weaknesses
- Which team will trade for Dillon Gabriel?
- LiveWire Thread for 2/23 - Twitter, Video, Articles
THE LIFT
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WRAPPING UP
When not throwing cold water on anything fun, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
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