7 Browns quarterback options if the team wants to look elsewhere

Who should win the Cleveland Browns quarterback competition? What if the best option isn’t even on the roster?

Neither Shedeur Sanders nor Deshaun Watson have, through training camp and two preseasons games, really stood enough quite enough to seize the job outright. Sanders probably has a little bit of an edge over Watson, but does Cleveland really trust either guy to navigate them through a 17-game schedule?

Unless the Browns really want to bottom out in 2026 in order to get one of the top 2027 NFL Draft selections, the team might benefit from looking outside of the building for their best option at quarterback this fall.

It’s not likely that Cleveland will take this route, but we’ll throw some quarterback trade options out there anyhow just in case the team wants to look elsewhere for a 2026 starter under center.

McCarthy missed out on the starting Minnesota job over Kyler Murray. Could he win the Browns competition? Why not at this point if you’re Cleveland if McCarthy’s trade value is reasonable?

QB Davis Mills

Mills has filled in admirably over the years for Houston. How would he do as a starter in Cleveland? He’s still got some real upside.

QB Andy Dalton

Dalton is past his prime, but he’s an experienced veteran who can still run an offense with some professionalism. If Philly is comfortable with Tanner McKee as Jalen Hurts’ backup, Dalton could be a trade candidate.

Rattler is a starting-caliber NFL quarterback, even if he’s not a bona fide star. We’d be very curious to see him start in Cleveland with New Orleans set for another year with Tyler Shough.

Fields could at least somewhat mimic what Lamar Jackson used to do in Todd Monken’s Baltimore Ravens scheme. Could Fields’ career revival happen in a Browns uniform?

Levis doesn’t really have a future with the Titans. Why not Cleveland for the former second-round quarterback? He might be a decent fit in Monken’s offense.

QB Aidan O’Connell

O’Connell is basically locked to be QB3 in Las Vegas. He’s a decent backup who could possibly fill in as a starter for a year, but he’s probably not the most enticing name on this list.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 7 Browns quarterback options if the team wants to look elsewhere