Aside from the quarterback situation, there is a lot to be excited about for Cleveland Browns fans heading into the 2026 season. Another loaded rookie class is here; GM Andrew Berry got crafty in free agency to rebuild the offensive line, there is an entirely new coaching staff in charge, and even though Myles Garrett is gone, Jared Verse is quite the return.
As fun as all that is, it all hinges on the quarterback room and whether or not Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders can produce at even a league average level. It’s going to take a lot of work to win over the fans and the media, which has been piling on since Watson was named the starter, and now ESPN’s Louis Riddick has joined the party.
During a recent episode of Get Up, Riddick discussed the Browns’ QB situation and definitively claimed that there is ‘no chance” the long-term answer is on the roster. It’s far from a hot take, but he believes the Browns are just playing for 2027.
“Cleveland needs to do less talking. Get on the football field; let’s get to the 2027 draft. That’s kind of where they’re pointing to anyway,” said Riddick.
With two first-round picks in what projects to be a loaded 2027 quarterback class, the Browns are well-positioned to find the franchise quarterback next year. Barring some sort of miracle, the team is just running out the clock on Watson’s contract, so unless Sanders takes over at some point and can convince the decision-makers that they should commit to him, a new QB is a certainty next year.
This franchise needs a long-term QB solution as bad as any team in football. We have all seen that viral Browns jersey with a thousand names scratched off on the back containing all the quarterbacks who have come and gone. Watson, and unfortunately Sanders and Dillon Gabriel will probably be little more than names on the back of that jersey in a few years.
On the bright side, Taylen Green looked awesome in preseason and maybe he can turn into something in a few years. That’s not a viable plan, though. Riddick is right, and just about everybody knows it, but that doesn’t mean this season has to be a waste. The Browns have a lot to play for and if the QBs can overachieve a little bit, there’s a path for this team to be a surprise.
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