For the second year in a row, the Cleveland Browns enter the offseason without an undisputed quarterback.
The inability to stabilize the position in 2025 has general manager Andrew Berry considering an acquisition, while coach Todd Monken confirms an open competition.
“I don’t see why it wouldn’t be an open competition,” he said at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Unlike last year, Cleveland now has three quarterbacks under contract: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Berry and Monken praise the skills of all three, while acknowledging the continued uncertainty. The free agent quarterback class features Daniel Jones and Malik Willis, the latter of whom is a potential starter for teams looking for talent. Willis, 26, has shown promising performances with Green Bay, despite having little history as a starter.
The path to a trade remains open: Anthony Richardson Sr. of the Colts and veterans like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson could represent options, but their track records or contracts limit the appeal. More expensive names like Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa are difficult for Cleveland to reach due to their high guaranteed contracts.
Offseason Outlook and Strategy
Berry says the team will take a focused and opportunistic approach. The objective: to ensure that internal competition at the quarterback position maximizes the chances of offensive success. Past experience, like the relative failure with Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco, underscores that Cleveland must navigate financial prudence and the need for immediate talent. Monken insists:
“We will do our due diligence to put our team in the best possible position to score points, which starts at quarterback. »
This offseason will be crucial to the Browns’ offensive future, as the race for a clear starter at quarterback remains open and every move, between free agency and trades, could reshape the team for seasons to come.
