The Cleveland Browns may be closing in on a pivotal quarterback decision and the latest developments don’t bode well for Shedeur Sanders.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, the Browns have quarterback prospect Ty Simpson and free-agent passer Malik Willis on their radar. That interest signals potential competition for a depth chart that already features Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel, all under contract for next season.
“If the Browns determine that Watson or Sanders can win for them in 2026 with a bolstered supporting cast and new head coach Todd Monken, they’ll compete for the job beginning in the offseason program in April, with one of them emerging as QB1,” Cabot said. “But Browns GM Andrew Berry and Monken have both stated that they’ll look outside the building for quality starters in the draft, free agency and the trade market.”
That openness to external options is where Sanders’ outlook grows murkier. Willis, a former third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, has limited starting experience but quietly rebuilt his value with the Green Bay Packers. In his lone start last season, he completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns — two rushing and one passing — in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Willis went 2-0 as a spot starter for the Packers in 2024, throwing for 550 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
The NFL’s legal negotiating window opens on March 9, with free agency officially getting underway on March 11. The Browns may also be chatting with teams this week at the combine as they explore trade options.
Malik Willis Signing Could End Shedeur Sanders’ Time With Browns
If the Browns do land Willis, Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan believes it should trigger an immediate shakeup.
“If they do ultimately end up with Malik Willis, the next move they have to make is get Shedeur Sanders out of here,” Ruiter said . “You shouldn’t hear from your backup quarterback, ever.”
If last season proved anything, it’s that Sanders is a polarizing presence in the Browns’ quarterback room. Long before he ever assumed the QB1 role, Sanders was a constant topic of conversation, drawing questions and attention inside the locker room as much as outside it.
Eventually, a mix of opportunity and persistence pushed Sanders to the top of the depth chart. He started seven games, going 3-4, and finished with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Monken made it clear while being introduced that no quarterback decision has been made.
“I’m excited to get started with the guys that we have in the room now, and then looking to add to that possibly,” Monken said . “You’ve got to have a quarterback to give yourself a chance to win in this league. We know that. You also have to have good players around them to really get it going. So I’m excited about Shedeur, Deshaun, Dillon and who else we might add to that in terms of competition to really have this offense take off.”
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Will Battle for Starting Job
Even if the Browns don’t land a new quarterback, Sanders will have competition for the starting job from Watson. The former Pro Bowler will be back at full strength after sitting out all of last year recovering from a pair of Achilles surgeries.
The final year of Watson’s contract doubles as a final audition. He’s 9-10 with the Browns since the 2022 trade and hasn’t made it through a full season since 2020. But Monken is clearly interested in finding out whether Watson can still be salvaged as a franchise quarterback.
“You’ve got two young players that still have a long way to go in terms of development, and that’s part of the learning curve in the NFL,” Monken said . “And then you’ve got a player like Deshaun, who’s coming back from injury and at one time was a Pro Bowl player, and an elite player in this league, that we would love to tap back into that, let alone with Dillon and Shedeur.”
Looking ahead, the Browns hold picks No. 6 and 24 in the first round of the NFL Draft.
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