As much as Shedeur Sanders and his fans would love for new Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken to name him as the team’s starting quarterback for the present and future, that simply isn’t going to happen.
Sanders didn’t do enough as a rookie to warrant that. With Deshaun Watson seemingly healthy, a quarterback competition is brewing. But there will likely be even more competition in the way, either through free agency and/or the 2026 NFL Draft.
Malik Willis and Anthony Richardson considered top options for Cleveland Browns, according to beat writer
Zac Jackson, a Browns beat writer for The Athletic, spoke with local Cleveland media from the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday. In his appearance, Jackson claims that “the plan is to go get Malik Willis“. If Willis falls through, then trading for Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson could be the second option. Jackson is adamant the front office is going to add competition at QB, one way or another.
“I can guarantee you the competition is not just Shedeur vs. Deshaun. It’s either Malik Willis and it’s not a competition, or it’s Shedeur vs. Deshaun vs. someone else… There’s no way it’s gonna be Shedeur vs. Deshaun. That’s what people are talking about now because that’s who’s on the roster right now. The roster is going to get additions, if not significant upgrades sometime in the next two weeks [in free agency], and then maybe again in two months [in the NFL Draft].“
Jackson even mentions Derek Carr, who’s rumored to be looking for the right opportunity to come out of retirement, as a quarterback who could become an option for Cleveland.
As a plugged-in beat reporter, Jackson’s comments shouldn’t be taken with a grain of salt. It’s clear that the Browns front office isn’t content with going into next season with either Sanders or Watson as their starting quarterback. They want someone good enough to beat them out in a competition.
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