The Cleveland Browns have solved more than one issue at the quarterback position in recent weeks, but there remain more questions than answers as the season opener approaches.
Joe Flacco is the starter, but Dillon Gabriel is QB2 and hot on his heels should things go off the rails early. Rookie Shedeur Sanders will begin the campaign as a member of the third-string offense — but he, too, is likely to get some run this year.
Meanwhile, the 2026 NFL draft looms large with two, or potentially three, franchise QBs for the taking. Cleveland owns its first-round pick and the one belonging to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which means the likelihood is the Browns will be able to utilize one, or both, of those selections to draft a player next April who puts Flacco, Gabriel and Sanders out of the running for a starting job.
With that in mind, Cleveland is in position to take a swing on a trade ahead of the mid-season deadline in November. The Indianapolis Colts sidelined former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson ahead of his third year in favor of Daniel Jones, which has led to Richardson’s interest in a change of scenery.
That relationship appears irreparably damaged, while the Browns don’t have much of a relationship built yet with Sanders, who was QB4 all offseason until the team traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders and Sanders elevated into the QB3 spot by default.
If Cleveland gives Sanders some action prior to November but still decides that Gabriel is their preferred option, coupled with the franchise’s chances at a top QB in 2026, flipping Sanders for a chance to develop Richardson has real merit.
Anthony Richardson Wants Trade From Colts, May Get Wish if Daniel Jones Plays Decently
GettyQuarterback Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts.
Dan Graziano of ESPN reported on Thursday, September 4, that Richardson and his agent are interested in finding a way out of Indianapolis.
“Richardson’s agent, Deiric Jackson — who publicly questioned trust in the Colts … after Richardson lost the QB battle to Jones — met in person last week with Colts general manager Chris Ballard to clear the air,” Graziano wrote. “Jackson called the meeting ‘very constructive,’ and just a chance for sides to ‘let feelings be known.’ Though a trade was not requested, the topic was broached in this meeting. Ballard reinforced that Indy has no plans to trade Richardson and still believes in the quarterback.”
The Colts may find Jones as lacking under center as the New York Giants did before they released him in the middle of last season, in which case keeping Richardson on the roster is a failsafe against what would be a nightmare situation if Jones is terrible and Richardson is playing elsewhere.
But if Jones finds his stride, or even if he is simply a passable starting QB flirting with status as a top-20 player at the position, the Colts may consider moving Richardson ahead of the deadline. They will have to decide on a fifth-year option for him next spring as a former first-rounder anyway, and giving another team that choice potentially adds more incentive in a trade scenario.
Browns Could Position to Have Anthony Richardson, Dillon Gabriel on Roster and Draft Top QB in 2026
GettyQuarterback Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns.
Whether the Colts would see Sanders as viable backup QB/potential starter depending on how Jones plays in 2025 is difficult to say. Indianapolis probably wouldn’t see Sanders as fair trade compensation for Richardson, who has elite physical skills that are unteachable but who has struggled to stay healthy and failed to develop to this point in his career.
That said, Richardson is the type of high-talent player who is worth a swing for a team like Cleveland. Kevin Stefanski is a quality QB developer and a respected offensive schemer, and the Browns may believe they can succeed where the Colts failed.
Hypothetically, the Browns could trade Sanders — along with perhaps a fourth- or fifth-round pick if necessary — and head into next season with Gabriel and Richardson both on the roster at affordable numbers. Richardson’s $34 million rookie deal carries a $9.2 million salary cap hit in 2025 and a $10.8 million cap hit in 2026.
The Browns could then position themselves to draft Cade Klubnik or Garrett Nussmeier or potentially Arch Manning if they own one of the top two or three picks. If they’re at pick No. 6 or 7 or the like, they can package that selection with whatever pick the Jaguars earn to potentially move up into the top two or three spots.
Deshaun Watson will be on the final year of his $230 million deal in 2026, after which the team will be largely rid of the financial destruction his deal has wrought — though not completely because of various restructures over the past three seasons.
Still, Cleveland would be in considerably better shape with three young signal-callers on the roster and needing just one of them to hit big.
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