The Cleveland Browns have gone into this offseason with the harsh reality that they have to, once again, start over and overhaul their entire quarterback room. QB1, QB2 and even QB3, and possibly even a QB4.
Deshaun Watson is gone and thankfully will not be coming back. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has not developed into even a decent backup and might be released or at best end up on the practice squad. Jameis Winston is not going to be coming back just based on how things ended with the team but, not gonna lie, was fun while it lasted.
It seems like every time when the Browns desperately need a QB and end up in the top 5 of the NFL Draft there is no clear-cut, generational, elite top pick. Then you would think to yourself "ok so we'll go get one in free agency" but problem there is they are in salary cap hell right now thanks to Watson's contract. Again still, even if they had plenty of cap room the pickings are pretty slim as far as free agency or possible trades.
With the NFL Combine starting up and plenty of rumors about what teams are interested in certain quarterbacks and who may or may not want traded and where they might go. The Browns are certainly in the middle of all the smoke. It's really hard to tell, especially this year, to figure out what's what right now.
So we're going to take deep dive into all the quarterbacks that are or will be available either in the draft, free agency or in a trade and see if we can realistically sort out this mess of QB's to figure who could end up on the Browns roster.
I'm going to attempt to break it down into groups from the Draft, QB1's and QB2's and in those groups I'll sort out to what's Possible, No Chance, My Choice for what the Browns quarterback room could look like.
NFL DRAFT
Cam Ward - Miami • Shedeur Sanders - Colorado • Dillon Gabriel - Oregon
Jalen Milroe - Alabama • Jaxson Dart - Ole Miss • Quinn Ewers - Texas
Will Howard - Ohio St. • Kyle McCord - Syracuse • Riley Leonard - Notre Dame Kurtis Rourke - Indiana • Max Brosmer - Minnesota • Brady Cook - Missouri
Seth Henigan - Memphis • Graham Mertz - Florida • Tyler Shough - Louisville
POSSIBLE
First Round
Cam Ward: If Tennessee decides to not take a QB and go with Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter I think the Browns won't hesitate to take Ward. I think he's the team's first choice but they also know the Titans can take that choice away from them
Shedeur Sanders: I would put Sanders at "No Chance" but as of right now and after listening to their press conferences and interviews at the Combine it's entirely possible that Andrew Berry & Kevin Stefanski give no shits about what Deion Sanders wants and drafts his son anyways.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Shedeur has the talent you look for as far as "franchise QB" is concerned, I'm just skeptical that "Primetime" is going to just sit back and be good with his son playing in Cleveland for the first 5 years of his career. Then again, this is still Jimmy Haslem's franchise and they have done crazier things, like trading for Deshaun Watson or drafting Johnny Manziel. Which is exactly why this is possible.
Rounds 2 - 4
Jalen Milroe: Keep in mind the Browns promoted Tommy Rees to Offensive Coordinator who also used to be the OC at Alabama when they brought in Milroe. He's not my choice but just keep that in mind if the Browns decide to skip on a QB at 2 and wait for the 2nd or 3rd round.
Jaxson Dart: Some mock drafts have Jaxson Dart going to the Browns at the top of the 2nd round. I don't see that happening but it is possible. I guess if the Browns want the Temu version of Baker Mayfield, he's their guy.
Quinn Ewers: This another one of the guys I can see the Browns drafting if they decide to get a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round. Ewers is a winner, he has all the intangibles that you want at QB. I'm still confused as to why nobody is talking about him going higher but here we are.
Will Howard: He helped lead Ohio State to win the National Championship. Howard has the size at 6'4" 236 lbs., accuracy and mobility to get out of the pocket. He also fits that mold the Browns look for at QB. And as a Buckeye fan that is the nicest things I will say about Will Howard.
Later Rounds 5 - 7
If we get to this point in the draft without the Browns selecting any QB I will fear for the safety of anyone around Cleveland and Berea because there will be full-on meltdowns. Holy shit!!!
Kyle McCord - Riley Leonard - Kurtis Rourke - Max Brosmer - Brady Cook - Seth Henigan - Graham Mertz - Tyler Shough ..... anyone? ..... anyone?
NO CHANCE It's the Browns and the NFL Draft, anything is possible!
MY CHOICE Cam Ward • Quinn Ewers • Jalen Milroe
Yes .. I only have 3 QB's that would be worth drafting for the Browns. Here me out.
Cam Ward is the only one that's worth taking at the 2nd pick. He's already separating himself from Sanders at the Combine and his physical tools are too good to pass up. If I had to pick between Ward or Sanders, which I am, I'm going with Ward and I'm starting to get on board with that pick. If he's not there at 2 then I'm trading down and getting a QB a little later.
Jalen Milroe has everything you want but he's still raw at the position and he's as close to Lamar Jackson as you're going to find, so why not take him? The Tommy Rees connection makes a lot of sense and I'm coming around to the idea of drafting him if the Browns plan on bringing in a veteran QB and allowing a player like Milroe to develop at his own pace.
Quinn Ewers may not be THE GUY to single handily turn around the Cleveland Browns franchise into contenders. But like I said earlier he's a winner at the highest levels of College Football, he can handle the hype being the QB1. As with Milroe, if the thought is to get a QB later in the draft and have him develop behind a veteran in his rookie season, Ewers is the only other QB that falls into that category for the Browns.
FREE AGENTS OR TRADES
AVAILABLE QBs Matthew Stafford • Aaron Rodgers • Sam Darnold
Kirk Cousins • Russell Wilson • Justin Fields • Daniel Jones • Jimmy Garoppolo Mac Jones • Marcus Mariota • Carson Wentz • Zach Wilson • Taylor Heinicke Drew Lock • Mason Rudolph • Cooper Rush • Jarrett Stidham • Trey Lance
Brandon Allen • Kyle Allen • Easton Stick • Kyle Trask
Jameis Winston • Jacoby Brissett • Joe Flacco • Nick Mullens • Josh Dobbs
Tyler Huntley • Case Kenum • Josh Johnson
NO CHANCE Matthew Stafford • Aaron Rodgers • Russell Wilson
Let's get the guys that are not coming to Cleveland out of the way, no matter how much you want to talk yourself into thinking there's even remotely any chance.
The main question you have to ask is why would Matt Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson want to come to Cleveland? The answer is THEY DON'T so move on.
Also the 8 FORMER BROWNS QB's that are in the list are not coming back.
POSSIBLE QB1: Sam Darnold • Kirk Cousins • Justin Fields • Daniel Jones
Jimmy Garoppolo QB2: Mac Jones • Marcus Mariota • Carson Wentz
Zach Wilson • Taylor Heinicke • Drew Lock • Trey Lance
Let's be honest here, if the Browns sign any of these guys either as a starter or backup we all know they'll end up with at least 1 start. And the most popular player for the Browns is always the backup. I could easily see any of these guys coming to Cleveland.
Kirk Cousins has familiarity with Kevin Stefanski. He's the most likely the QB available to actually have success in the NFL and want to come to Cleveland. And if it all goes to hell he's just that type that would go down with the likes of Trent Dilfer, Jeff Garcia, Jake Delhomme, Jason Campbell, Ty Detmer, RG3, Tyrod Taylor.
Justin Fields makes more sense to me than any of the options. He's still young enough, has everything you're looking for in a QB he just hasn't found the right team to get behind him with the right system to let him be comfortable in an offense.
Daniel Jones is looking for a fresh start and a team stupid enough that would give him that 2nd chance and the Browns are just that type of team. We can put Mac Jones, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance in this category too.
Jimmy G is now that aging veteran still looking for somewhere to recharge his career. Mariota and Wentz also fit this description.
Sam Darnold I wanted to put in the No Chance group but I suppose it's possible but not very likely. He makes more sense going to the Raiders or the Rams.
MY CHOICE Justin Fields • Marcus Mariota • Trey Lance
Hey man, look this is what I would do, not what will probably happen so just let me live a little.
Justin Fields can still be really good if given the right opportunity. He can immediately come in and be your starter and at least keep the Browns competitive. If it really works out he's your QB for the long term and you won't have to worry about who's next available to draft in 2026.
Marcus Mariota gives you that veteran backup presence that's good to have behind a younger QB and in the locker room. I also think Mariota fits well with the Stefanski offense and makes the most sense if they go looking for a veteran QB to bring in. Think along the same line as when they brought in Jameis Winston and Jacoby Brissett.
Trey Lance is just a low risk/high reward type of move to add to the quarterback room, bring in as an extra training camp arm and also see if he can come in and compete for a spot on the roster.
So there you have it. Hopefully I was able to help sort through all the quarterback clutter and give some clarity as far as what's a real possibility and what is just a bunch of BS that we're getting fed just to help position these guys to get where they want to go. I'm sure I'm wrong but this is what I think.
Let me know what you guys think in the comments below.
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