Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Getty
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The Cleveland Browns may be plotting a move to build out their quarterback room but are keeping it quiet ahead of the draft.
So far, the Browns have done nothing to add to their quarterback depth, with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel remaining the three passers on the roster. Cleveland was never seriously in the running for Malik Willis, who was widely viewed as the top free agent option. And most draft projections have the Browns pursuing other offensive upgrades, both on the line and at wide receiver, with their two first-round picks.
However, Cynthia Frelund of NFL Network believes the Browns are considering all their options and are likely keeping it on the down-low.
“Prediction markets seem to think the Browns will draft a quarterback very high that will start this year,” Frelund said. “If you’re looking at the opportunity as the rest of the AFC North resets, it would be a great time to bring a new quarterback in. I’m pretty sure everyone that works for the Browns’ front office is looking for that person. I think you’re going to get your wish just based on some things I saw at the combine and conversations that I had.”
Browns Have Options With Upside Later in Draft
Frelund also noted that perhaps the quarterback the Browns are targeting is not a high pick, but someone they see with upside.
“There are some interesting pieces. What about some upside for a guy who is not drafted high? Brock Purdy wasn’t thought highly of, but now you can’t say the same thing,” Frelund said. “I think they have some ideas that they maybe aren’t sharing out loud because there are a whole bunch of teams that need quarterbacks still, even though we saw a lot of them move around this past week. Maybe they just don’t want anyone to know what they’re thinking.”
The reality is that the Browns spent two draft picks on quarterbacks last season in Gabriel and Sanders. As it stands, Sanders has shown some upside as a legitimate starter, while Gabriel’s future is likely as a backup.
But some later round options for the Browns include Carson Beck, Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier.
Browns Plan to Have Open Competition
The Browns have not established a frontrunner in the quarterback competition. With new head coach Todd Monken in place, the Browns plan to have an open competition for the job. Most see that as a battle between Sanders and Watson, who is returning after a full year on the sideline.
“Sure, I think it’s an open competition,” Monken said at the NFL Combine. “I mean, I don’t why it wouldn’t be an open competition. I don’t mean that saying it harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet. Whether internally or externally.”
While a decision still needs to be made at quarterback, the Browns are looking to make life more comfortable for whoever is under center. The team has focused on rebuilding the offensive line through free agency and trades.