Insider Raises Eyebrows With Browns QB Trade Idea

This was supposed to be a bridge year for the Cleveland Browns with all eyes looking toward the future and two first-round picks looming in the 2027 draft. However, things have changed now that the Browns are 5-2 and working towards an improbable playoff run behind new head coach Todd Monken and quarterback Deshaun Watson going through a career renaissance.

With the Browns obviously not blowing things up, things could get a lot more interesting heading into the trade deadline. Trade rumors have been swirling around the quarterback room for weeks due to Dillon Gabriel’s return from IR, leading many to wonder if he or Shedeur Sanders will be shipped out, but one insider had a different idea.

Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr recently tossed out a different QB idea and proposed the Browns trading for New Orleans Saints backup Spencer Rattler.

“I think the idea of turning to Shedeur Sanders is a nonstarter for Todd Monken,” Orr said.

.@ConorOrr lists this potential trade idea for the Browns:

– Browns trade for Saints backup QB Spencer Rattler to be their new QB2

"I think the idea of turning to Shedeur Sanders is a nonstarter for Todd Monken"

Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/RpqXVVFOBG

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) October 28, 2026

This is an idea out of left field that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The Browns already have four quarterbacks on the roster and Watson has emphatically reclaimed the role as the starter, so if they trade for Spencer Rattler, something would have to give.

Adding Rattler into the equation would have to come with a Sanders trade. The Browns might have to trade Gabriel as well for this to make sense, and recent reports suggest that neither of them will be heading elsewhere at the deadline.

What would Monken see in Rattler that he couldn’t get in Sanders? Rattler has had chances to start and hasn’t looked the part, so unless Monken believes that he can potentially be a buy-low type of addition with a lot of untapped potential, this would be a bizarre move.

It would be surprising to see the Browns add to an already crowded QB room ahead of the deadline. A trade like this wouldn’t move the needle, and the likely outcome is that the current QB room remains in place at least until the end of the season.