Cleveland Browns GM Offers Update On Quarterback Situation For 2026 Season

If you thought the Cleveland Browns would walk into the NFL Combine with some clarity at the most important position in football, you clearly haven’t been paying attention to this organization.

General Manager Andrew Berry stood at the podium on Tuesday and essentially told everyone what we already knew: the Browns have no idea who their starting quarterback will be in 2026. Shedeur Sanders? Maybe. Deshaun Watson? Possibly. Dillon Gabriel? Don’t forget about him. A mystery veteran or draft pick? Why not throw more names into the hat?

“We don’t have to make that decision anytime soon,” Berry said when asked about the quarterback competition. “Any player that we have in that room, we would expect to compete to earn a role. Those two would be no different.”

The Browns are less than two months away from voluntary workouts, and their GM is treating the starting quarterback decision like he’s got all the time in the world.

What Does Sanders Need to Do?

To his credit, Berry did provide some actual insight into what he wants to see from Sanders, the fifth-round pick who finished last season as the starter after Gabriel got knocked out with a concussion.

“I think the biggest thing that we want to see from Shedeur is just continued growth,” Berry said. “He grew a lot from Start 1 to Start 7. Playing more efficiently, not putting the ball in harm’s way as much would be important while maintaining the ability to produce out of structure and generate explosive plays.”

Sanders went 3-4 as a starter last season, capping things off with back-to-back wins over Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Not bad for a guy who was the team’s fourth-string quarterback to start training camp. But let’s not get carried away—his numbers were pretty rough. We’re talking about an 18.9 QBR, which ranked fifth-worst among quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts since 2006. That’s not exactly inspiring confidence.

The 10 interceptions against just 7 touchdowns didn’t help his case either. Sure, he showed flashes of brilliance, but he also made plenty of head-scratching decisions that had those fans reaching for the remote.

The Deshaun Watson Elephant In the Room

Then there’s Watson, who hasn’t played a meaningful snap since October 2024 when he tore his Achilles against Cincinnati. That’s 27 games missed if you’re keeping track at home. Since the Browns mortgaged their future for him, Watson has started just 19 games across three seasons. But Berry isn’t ready to close the door on Watson, who’s owed $46 million in salary next season and carries an $80.7 million cap hit.

“Deshaun’s been working really hard, he’s been working his tail off,” Berry said. “We’re excited to go in mid-April with all of our players across the roster.”

Don’t Sleep On Dillon Gabriel

Remember him? The third-round pick from Oregon, who actually started six games before Sanders took over? Berry certainly hasn’t forgotten about him, even if everyone else has. “He may be forgotten externally, but he’s not forgotten to us,” Berry said. “Dillon’s a guy that has a bright future in this league.”

Gabriel’s six starts weren’t exactly memorable. He played too conservatively, rarely pushed the ball downfield, and looked more like a backup than a franchise quarterback. But he’s still on the roster, he’s still young, and apparently, he’s still very much in the mix.

Could the Browns Add Another QB?

Here’s where things get really interesting. When asked if there was a legitimate pathway to adding a veteran starter, Berry’s response was a simple “TBD.”

The Browns have been linked to free agent Malik Willis and have been mentioned in trade rumors for guys like Mac Jones from San Francisco or Kyler Murray from Arizona. Berry didn’t shut down any of those possibilities, instead leaving the door wide open.

“I think there’s always the possibility, but we have a long way to go before we get to that point,” he said.

And let’s not forget about the draft. Cleveland holds three picks in the top 39, including picks at No. 6 and No. 24 in the first round. While this year’s quarterback class doesn’t have the same buzz as last year’s, there are still intriguing options like Alabama’s Ty Simpson, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, and Penn State’s Drew Allar.

Berry’s Philosophy On Drafting QBs

Perhaps the most telling comment from Berry came when he was asked about his mentality on drafting so many quarterbacks. His response was simple and direct: “It’s the most important position.”

No kidding. But here’s the problem with that philosophy—at some point, you have to actually commit to one of these guys and build around him. You can’t keep throwing darts at the board hoping something sticks.

Last year, the Browns shocked everyone by taking two quarterbacks just two rounds apart. Berry made it clear that it wouldn’t stop them from drafting another one this year. “I don’t see a problem with that,” he said when asked about the possibility.

The Timeline Question

Perhaps the most frustrating part of Berry’s press conference was his refusal to commit to any sort of timeline for naming a starter. When asked if the quarterback situation would be resolved before OTAs or training camp, he essentially shrugged.

“I think either scenario is fine,” Berry said. “I don’t know that I would handicap one versus the other. Neither scare me.”

You don’t want to rush into a decision, especially at quarterback. But there’s a difference between being patient and being indecisive. The Browns are dangerously close to crossing that line. Sanders needs to know if he’s the guy so he can prepare accordingly. The offensive line needs to know who they’re protecting. The receivers need to know who’s throwing them the ball.

What This All Means

The Browns are entering the fourth year of the Watson era with no clarity at the most important position in football. They’ve got two young, unproven quarterbacks who showed flashes but also significant flaws. They’ve got an expensive veteran who might never be the same player he once was. And they might add even more names to the mix through free agency or the draft.

It’s a mess. Berry can talk all he wants about competition and not rushing decisions, but at some point, this franchise needs to make a call and stick with it. Fans in Cleveland have been through enough quarterback drama to last a lifetime. They deserve better than this constant state of uncertainty.