The Cleveland Browns’ 20-year search for a quarterback may not have ended with the arrival of Shedeur Sanders in 2025.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry first revealed his uncertainty this week when discussing Deion Sanders’ son with reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Asked if it would be the younger Sanders or veteran Deshaun Watson starting at quarterback next season, Berry said it was ‘too early to say.’
Now Cleveland.com‘s Mary Kay Cabot is reporting the Browns are considering a number of other options at quarterback next season, including Watson, free agent Malik Willis and Alabama product, Ty Simpson, a projected first-round pick.
New head coach Todd Monken reportedly has interest in Watson, whose career has been derailed by sexual misconduct allegations, erratic play and injuries.
Watson has now settled 27 lawsuits with women who accused him of inappropriate behavior during massages. He’s also returning from not one, but two ruptured Achilles tendons.
Although Watson has not played a full season since 2020, Cabot previously reported the former Clemson and Houston Texans star did look good when he began practicing in December.
Sanders became an unlikely Pro Bowl selection as a rookie while going just 3-4 in his starts
Watson’s career has been derailed by accusations, inconsistency and injuries
Watson is just 9-10 as a starter with the Browns and has been sacked nearly 12 percent of his drop backs with Cleveland.
As for Sanders, he had an up-and-down rookie season in Cleveland.
After initially tumbling from a projected first-round pick to the fifth during the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders got some public support from President Donald Trump and later made seven starts, going 3-4 along the way.
Sanders became an unlikely Pro Bowl selection as a rookie despite throwing 10 interceptions compared to just seven touchdowns.
The Browns defense ranked fourth in yards allowed last season, but the offense was worse than all but one NFL team. So it won’t be a huge surprise to see an overhaul on offense with Monken coming over from Baltimore, where he served as offensive coordinator.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders of the Browns greets his father, NFL great Deion Sanders
Ex-Browns right guard Wyatt Teller recently announced on Instagram he will enter free agency and sign with a new team for the upcoming 2026 campaign. Remarkably, Teller’s exit means that the entire Browns offensive line is now hitting free agency.
Teller joins starters Cam Robinson, Ethan Pocic, Jack Conklin and Joel Bitonio in looking for a new team.
The Browns do have the sixth and 24th picks in the first round of April’s draft, where they could add several offensive linemen to protect whomever it is gets the Week 1 start at quarterback.
Cabot has also reported the Browns could explore trading down in the draft as a way to fill out their roster with more picks.