Cleveland Browns weigh external quarterback options amid unresolved internal competition
With Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson failing to secure the starting role outright, the Browns are evaluating seven potential trade candidates to mitigate risk for the 17-game 2026 season.
The Cleveland Browns are assessing the possibility of acquiring an external starting quarterback for the 2026 NFL season, a move driven by an internal competition that has yet to produce a definitive winner. According to analysis from Yahoo Sports, neither Shedeur Sanders nor Deshaun Watson has established sufficient dominance during training camp and the first two preseason games to claim the position outright. While Sanders currently holds a slight edge over Watson, the franchise is weighing the strategic risk of relying on either player to navigate a full 17-game schedule.
The decision is further complicated by the team’s long-term draft positioning. Unless the Browns intend to intentionally underperform, or "bottom out," in 2026 to secure a top selection in the 2027 NFL Draft, the organisation may find it beneficial to look outside the building for a more established option. However, the source notes that while these options exist as a contingency, it is not considered highly likely that Cleveland will pursue an external trade at this stage.
Seven specific players have been identified as potential trade candidates should the Browns decide to explore the market. The list includes J.J. McCarthy of the Vikings, who lost the starting role to Kyler Murray, and Davis Mills of the Texans, who has demonstrated reliable performance as a backup. Veteran Andy Dalton of the Eagles is also on the list, with the analysis suggesting he could be a trade candidate if Philadelphia is comfortable with Tanner McKee as Jalen Hurts’ backup.
Other identified options include Spencer Rattler of the Saints, who is described as a starting-calibre quarterback, and Justin Fields of the Chiefs. Fields is noted as a potential fit to mimic the role Lamar Jackson previously played in Todd Monken’s offensive scheme. Will Levis of the Titans, whose future with that franchise appears uncertain, is also considered a potential fit for the Browns’ system.
The final candidate on the list is Aidan O’Connell of the Raiders, who is currently positioned as the team’s third-string quarterback. While O’Connell is viewed as a decent backup who could potentially fill in as a starter for a year, the analysis suggests he is not the most enticing option among the seven. The suitability of these players is based on hypothetical scenarios rather than confirmed trade talks, reflecting the speculative nature of the current quarterback landscape.
This evaluation highlights the Browns’ institutional dilemma between internal development and external acquisition. As the preseason concludes, the team must determine whether the marginal risk of their current roster justifies the asset expenditure required to secure a new starter, or if the internal competition will resolve itself in the coming weeks.
