The AFC North’s Cleveland Browns enter the 2026 NFL season facing heightened scrutiny at the most important position on the field. Questions surrounding their quarterback group have placed the team under an uncomfortable spotlight.
Cleveland has been ranked as having the weakest quarterback room in the league, a label that reflects uncertainty rather than a lack of effort to address the position. Concerns center on consistency, health and whether the group can deliver stable production over the course of the season.
Cleveland Browns, Deshaun Watson, NFL, AFC North
Nov 23, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson watches on the sidelines against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The evaluation points to a lack of clarity in leadership at quarterback, with no clear long-term answer firmly established. While there is talent within the group, the ability to translate that into reliable performance remains a key issue.
The situation has created added pressure on the offense as a whole, which often depends on steady quarterback play to function effectively. Without consistency at the position, even well-designed systems can struggle to find rhythm and sustain drives for the AFC North team.
NFL Analysis Names QB Room of AFC North’s Cleveland Browns as Worst in the League
Cleveland Browns, Shedeur Sanders, Skip Bayless, Kyler Murray, NFL free agency, Geno Smith
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) runs the ball in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The Browns kicked a last second field goal to win 20-18.
Cleveland’s quarterback group was recently named as the worst ahead of the upcoming season. This is detailed more in an analysis by Garrett Podell for CBS Sports.
QBs: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green
There is no quarterback room more chaotic than that of the Cleveland Browns.
There’s the husk of Deshaun Watson, a quarterback who tore his Achilles in 2023 and once more in his rehab process in 2024, set to enter the final season of his five-year, $230 million fully-guaranteed contract in 2026. He’s only played 19 games in four seasons since the Browns traded three first-round picks to the Houston Texans to acquire his services, and Watson has thrown for 300-plus yards in exactly none of those 19 games played. Among the 42 quarterbacks who have thrown 550 or more passes between the years of 2022 and 2024, when Watson has played for Cleveland, Watson’s 6.0 yards per attempt ranked 41st in the league at 6.0. That’s before even getting into hisoff-field legal issues since arriving in Cleveland.
Then you have the lightning rod that is 2025 fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders, the son of Deion. Despite being blitzed on 24% of his dropbacks since his NFL debut in Week 11, Sanders faced pressure on 51% of his dropbacks, the highest such rate in the league. That’s indicative of his biggest weakness in college, holding on to the football too long, which still remains an issue as a professional.
Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-round pick, started in Weeks 5-11 for the Browns. He completed just 59.5% of his passes for 937 yards with 7 passing touchdowns and 2 interceptions across 10 games played, including those six starts. Cleveland lost five of his six starts last season.
Then, there’s 2026 sixth-round pick Taylen Green, a player with so much athletic potential that fans are begging him to switch to wide receiver. He never registered a completion percentage of 62% or higher in four seasons of college football, but he averaged the third-most total yards per game in the SEC (290.9) in 2025 and, since 2024, ranked No. 1 in college football in plays of 10-plus yards (315) and 20-plus yards (109). Turnovers were also a problem for Green: he racked up 37 since 2024 (20 interceptions, 17 fumbles) while hunting highlight-reel throws.
It’s the final year of Watson’s contract, and if he can still move around after two Achilles tears, he’s the quarterback who has experienced the most NFL success with three Pro Bowl selections.
At the same time, the Browns have options that could shift the narrative if given the opportunity. Development, adaptation and in-season adjustments may play a significant role in determining how the position evolves.
The outlook for the Browns’ quarterback room remains uncertain heading into 2026. Whether the group can overcome early criticism will depend on performance, as the team looks to prove it can compete despite the doubts surrounding its most critical position.