The Cleveland Browns’ long, winding search for a franchise quarterback is starting to feel like an NFL rite of passage - one that never quite reaches the finish line. That infamous jersey listing every QB since 1999?
It stopped being funny years ago. And now, as we turn the page to another offseason, the Browns are once again staring into the quarterback abyss.
With picks No. 6 and No. 24 in this year’s draft, Cleveland is in a tough spot. This quarterback class isn’t exactly loaded with sure things, and unless someone unexpectedly slides, the Browns may find themselves out of range for a true difference-maker under center.
Free agency? That doesn’t offer much hope either. According to recent analysis, the Browns might actually be the worst possible landing spot for three of the more notable names expected to hit the market: Daniel Jones, Russell Wilson, and Malik Willis.
Let’s start with Jones and Wilson - two quarterbacks whose names carry weight, but whose recent play has raised more questions than answers. Jones is likely heading back to Indianapolis or cashing in somewhere else.
Wilson? He already passed on Cleveland once, and after his struggles last season, it’s clear he’s no longer the same player who led Seattle to a Super Bowl.
His days as a surefire starter might be behind him.
But the more intriguing name here is Malik Willis.
Willis, once considered a raw project with the Tennessee Titans, has quietly rebuilt his stock over the last two seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Working behind Jordan Love and under the guidance of Matt LaFleur, he’s shown real growth - improved decision-making, better ball security, and flashes of the dual-threat ability that made him a fascinating prospect in the first place. He’s no longer just an athlete playing quarterback - he’s starting to look like an NFL quarterback with real upside.
That’s what makes his potential fit in Cleveland such a complicated conversation.
The Browns, at the moment, aren’t exactly set up to support a young, developing quarterback. Their offensive line - once a strength - is trending in the wrong direction, and the receiving corps lacks reliable, high-end talent.
As one analyst put it, Cleveland simply doesn’t have the infrastructure in place for someone like Willis to build on his progress. Dropping him into that situation could send his career spiraling back to square one - the version of Willis that was traded for a future seventh-round pick.
And that’s the risk. Willis needs the right situation - a stable coaching staff, a solid line, and weapons that can help him grow.
The Browns, right now, don’t check many of those boxes. There’s also the possibility that he could follow Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to Miami, where the Dolphins offer a far more quarterback-friendly environment.
If that opportunity presents itself, it’s hard to blame him for taking it.
So where does that leave Cleveland?
Unless something unexpected happens - a surprise trade, a veteran cut loose late in the offseason, or a draft-day slide - the Browns may be forced to stick with their current quarterback room. And let’s be honest: that’s not an inspiring prospect.
They’ve got a couple of second-year players who still have time to develop, but the early returns haven’t been promising. It’s a group that, by most accounts, ranks near the bottom of the league.
For a franchise that’s been chasing quarterback stability for decades, it’s another frustrating chapter. The Browns have built a tough, competitive roster in other areas. But without a solution at the most important position in the sport, they’re stuck spinning their wheels.
And unless something changes soon, that quarterback jersey might need a few more panels.