Well, this would be a change in direction for the Browns. As the team plays out its string with an eye on deciding whether Shedeur Sanders could be the team’s starting quarterback going forward, a number of alternative possibilities have been raised. The Browns could turn to a first-round draft pick in 2026–they have two of them, after all. Or they could chase a top trade target, with Mac Jones of the 49ers as the most notable name available there.
Those are, generally, the Browns’ only realistic options … well, except one, as raised by The Athletic this week. There is a free-agent quarterback who could potentially interest the Browns this offseason: current Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis, who is not much of a passer but has shown some chops as a game-manager and a runner.
Browns Could Shift Gears, Dump Shedeur Sanders for Free Agent
His running ability would require the Browns to reconfigure their offense, but Willis does check a couple of boxes in Cleveland’s quarterback search this winter: for one thing, he is cheap, and for another, he is adaptable. Willis has shown plenty of comfort working as a QB2, so even if the Browns brought him in to compete with Sanders, he would be worth holding onto even if he lost that competition.
The notion of the Browns signing Willis comes from beat writer Zac Jackson of The Athletic, though Jackson sees Willis as an option if the team decided not to bring back either Sanders or Dillon Gabriel next season.
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Browns Would Get a Mobile QB
Willis started two games for the Packers last year, and has played meaningful snaps in place of Jordan Love twice this year. He won both of his starts, meaning he has more wins than anyone on the Browns’ current QB depth chart.
Writes Jackson: “Willis, 26, has enough arm strength and mobility to succeed. He’s only thrown 68 passes over the last two seasons, but he’s completed 52 of them. Willis won’t get a big contract if he hits free agency in March, but he almost certainly will garner some interest if he wants to leave Green Bay and pursue the chance to be a starter next season. …
“If the Browns move on from their current rookie quarterbacks and want to return to the lower-end veteran market, they could be a suitor for Willis.”
Shedeur Sanders Making ‘Right Progression’
Of course, the line in Cleveland is that the Browns are appreciative of the development they’ve seen from Sanders and just want to see him carry it through the end of the season. If he does that, perhaps the Browns will commit to him going forward.
“I just think continue on the right progression that he’s on right now, continue to make good decisions, continue to focus on the areas that we’re asking him to do,” offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said.
“You know, find ways to move the football, find ways to score points – that’s the quarterback’s job. But to put expectations and put those on. And we’re just looking for good progression and making sure that each week there’s improvement. Each week we’re building upon what we’ve done and again, find ways to score points and move the ball.”
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