Browns fans ‘stuck in QB limbo’ with limited Shedeur Sanders and worst signing in NFL history

The Cleveland Browns look set for to be stuck in quarterback limbo once again in 2026.

For a franchise with a long list of needs and a complicated cap situation, general manager Andrew Berry has his work cut out to knock the roster into shape this offseason.

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He has already made promising moves, with some versatile veterans arriving to fill holes on the offensive line. The Browns defense has also been boosted by the arrival of linebacker Quincy Williams.

But, as fans know far too well, the most important position on the field is quarterback.

Cleveland, unfortunately, is lacking there.

Last season saw rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders handed a shot under center after the departure of veteran Joe Flacco.

But neither did enough to lock down the starting role for years to come.

Sanders is said to be ahead of Gabriel in the pecking order after finishing the 2025 season, and he is expected to battle the returning Deshaun Watson for that No. 1 spot.

Watson sat out the entirety of last year, as he recovered from an Achilles tear, and the re-rupture that followed.

New head coach Todd Monken is expected to hold a competition to find his new starting quarterback, but according to NFL Network analyst Marc Ross, neither man has enough to move the Browns forward.

Browns could be ‘stuck in quarterback limbo’ next season

During an exclusive interview with talkSPORT’s Senior US Writer Brian T. Smith, Ross was asked for his take on Cleveland’s QB mess, and argued that Watson will go down as the ‘worst signing’ in league history.

He also suggested Sanders is too limited to bring the franchise playoff success.

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“They’re paying him so much money — that’s the thing with Deshaun. It’s, ‘Alright, we can’t walk away from this now,'” Ross said, predicting the $230 million signal caller to be involved in any competition.

“We at least have got to give it one more shot to see if he has anything left. And it already looks bad enough, maybe the worst signing in the history of the NFL.

“But you have to at least try to save face with it. And then with Shedeur… he’s a lightning rod with everybody and draws eyes.

“You know, this year he showed some flashes. But overall, even coming out, I didn’t think he was a starting quarterback.

“He has certain limitations that are going to prevent him from being an upper tier or consistent starting quarterback that you go win in the playoffs with.

“So, the Browns drafted him, he’s going to be in the mix. Deshaun, you have to have him in the mix, but you can bring in another one as well — if you can bring in somebody else.

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“Unfortunately for Browns fans, you just might be stuck in limbo once again.”

Will Cleveland bring in another QB for 2026?

The picture painted by Ross is rather bleak.

After back-to-back losing seasons, the last thing Browns fans will want to hear is that they’re set for another year of QB uncertainty.

To address that issue, they could look to the draft. However, the signal-caller class behind projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza is thin.

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Still, names like Ty Simpson — who has recently made a ‘come and get me’ plea — Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck will certainly still be on the board when Cleveland picks at No. 6 and No. 24, and perhaps in later rounds.

Free agency also remains an option, with veteran QBs Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garappolo and even Russell Wilson still available.

However, ESPN insider Adam Schefter believes some in the building feel Watson is emerging as the starter.

“Let me say this. There are people out there, and we’ll see how it unfolds, but there are people out there who believe that Deshaun Watson could very well be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns on opening day,” he told The Pat McAfee Show recently.

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That suggestion probably won’t excite fans, who will have to wait and see how things shake out.

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