How Browns could actually make Taylen Green their starting QB in 2026 image
The Cleveland Browns' quarterback room has been a hot topic all NFL offseason. The Shedeur Sanders vs. Deshaun Watson training camp and preseason battle for the Week 1 starting job ended with Watson as the winner.
Dillon Gabriel, despite being a third-round pick one year ago, was firmly the QB3 in Cleveland and went onto the injured list to start the year. But sitting at the bottom of the depth chart, somewhat forgotten, is rookie QB Taylen Green.
Green is a project and not likely to play during the 2026 season. But ESPN's Dan Graziano did reveal that there is a chance he does play. How? It'll take multiple injuries, a trade, and some desperation to lead Todd Monken to go with the rookie QB in 2026.
How the Browns could start Taylen Green at QB in 2026
"The Browns could put in some packages for the speedy Green, and sure, he could start at some point," Graziano writes. "You never know how desperate things will get at quarterback in Cleveland."
The Browns have four quarterbacks on their NFL roster right now, with Watson set to start Week 1. Sanders is next in line and is sure to be the team's starter if Watson struggles lead to a benching, or if he gets hurt.
But after Sanders, the Browns might go with Gabriel as the starter. He's a floor-play at QB who won't bring a lot of upside, but could help showcase the talents of rookie receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion.
However, Gabriel could be a trade candidate, as the Browns might want to avoid holding four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster when Gabriel is healthy a little later this season.
MORE: Why Browns are making a massive mistake with Deshaun Watson as QB1 over Shedeur Sanders
If the Browns trade Gabriel and Sanders takes over for Watson either due to struggles or injury, there is a small chance the Browns turn to Green if Sanders struggles or gets hurt as well.
It's hard to imagine the Browns starting Green, a project QB, if Sanders, Watson, and Gabriel are all healthy and all on the NFL roster.
But a combination of injuries and a possible trade of Gabriel or Sanders could open the door to Green getting a start or two to close out the 2026 season.
More likely than not, the Browns will not have Green make a single start in 2026. He's a developmental QB who might be used on gadget plays or as an emergency third QB.
It would take a lot of things to go wrong for Green to be starting at any point in 2026. But, as Graziano noted, desperate times could call for desperate measures, and Green could find himself as the starter late in the year for Cleveland.
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