There’s only one question that Cleveland Browns fans should be asking as the 2026-27 season inches closer: Who will start at quarterback for the AFC North franchise?
The franchise certainly has options at the position, but it’s unclear who will get the nod when it’s all said and done. Fansided’s Wynston Wilcox believes the Browns could make their starting QB race less intriguing by trading their 24-year-old Pro Bowl signal-caller, who happens to be the son of an ex-Dallas Cowboys star and Hall of Famer.
“Will (Shedeur) Sanders be traded,” Wilcox asked Monday. “Probably not. But it’s something the Browns will have to consider if one, (Deshaun) Watson starts Week 1, and two, if he looks even half of what he used to when he was in Houston.”
“Sanders is the projected starter for the Browns, but the fact that Watson potentially has an ‘inside track’ to starting proves Sanders could be closer to being traded than Cleveland’s future.”
“The Browns drafted Taylen Green, so realistically, they could turn to him as the backup (obviously Dillon Gabriel as well) and do away with the Sanders drama. I think the Browns giving up on Sanders this early would be a mistake, but this front office has made some good decisions for the most part when it comes to roster construction, so I would simply trust what this front office has planned.”
Trading Sanders would essentially solidify Watson as the clear-cut No. 1 QB option moving forward. However, it would also leave Cleveland without a backup they feel comfortable turning to in emergencies.
Gabriel was solid in spurts with the Browns last season, but there’s a reason why he got benched in favor of Sanders during the second half of the year. Gabriel’s small stature, unimpressive arm talent, and hesitancy to take downfield shots didn’t sit well with the Browns, prompting them to send the Oregon product to the bench.
Gabriel finished the year with 110 completions for 937 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions, a 59.5% completion percentage, a 31.4 QBR, and a 49.0 overall PFF grade.
Simply put, if any Browns QB should get traded this season, it should be Gabriel, not Sanders.
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