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The Browns aren’t rushing to name their Week 1 starter in the middle of February.
Speaking Tuesday during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, returning general manager Andrew Berry said “it’s too early to say” whether Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson will be QB1 come September, and how the team is “looking outside,” according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
The Browns, who finished in the basement of the AFC North at 5-12, had a rotating cast at quarterback in 2025 that included veteran Joe Flacco, rookies Dillon Gabriel and Sanders, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
Watson, the team’s $230 million quarterback, was sidelined for the year after re-rupturing his Achilles tendon. He is projected to be an $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, the final season of his five-year deal, according to Spotrac.
Sanders, a fifth-round pick in last year’s draft, took over as the starter in November and threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions across eight games.
Although Sanders’ NFL career has only just begun, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Watson, whose controversial union with the Browns has been a resounding disappointment.
The quarterback, who had been accused of sexual misconduct before agreeing to a five-year, fully guaranteed contract with the club, has struggled to stay healthy and has delivered uneven performances when actually on the field.
With the Browns entering 2026 with a new head coach — the club hired Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to succeed the fired Kevin Stefanski — it remains to be seen if a new QB will join the team, too.
Cabot reported Tuesday former Packers backup quarterback Malik Williams and Alabama QB Ty Simpson “are among the external” players the club has its eyes on.
Berry, now entering his seventh year as Browns GM, is not against an open competition at training camp this summer, per Cabot.
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