With rosters getting trimmed to 53 by Sunday evening, the Browns are staring at the same quarterback question that has hovered over them all summer: how many arms do they actually want to keep in the room?
One possibility is simple enough - keep all four. Another is to cut the group down, stay with Deshaun Watson, and look outside for help.
That’s where J.J. McCarthy enters the conversation, at least in theory.
McCarthy, the former No. 10 overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings, is reportedly in danger of missing the 53-man roster, according to insider Alec Lewis. If that happens, he’d become one of the more notable names available, and the Browns’ lack of a clear franchise quarterback naturally invites speculation.
But the fit in Cleveland doesn’t really make sense.
Watson is already lined up to open the season as the starter, Shedeur Sanders has flashed promise in camp, Dillon Gabriel has the look of a long-term backup option, and the team also just drafted Taylen Green, who could have a role in special packages on offense. That’s a crowded enough quarterback room without adding another project.
And McCarthy would be a project.
His availability would not come from simple roster math. He’s in this spot because of play, not just because of contract status.
Kyler Murray came into Minnesota and won the job, leaving Carson Wentz as the likely backup. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with an injury, then returned to become the Week 1 starter in 2025.
The Vikings went 6-4 in his starts, but the individual numbers were far less encouraging. McCarthy passed for more than 200 yards only twice, threw 11 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, and never really unlocked the offense around him.
That included Justin Jefferson, who had just one 100-yard game with McCarthy under center in what was the least productive year of Jefferson’s career to that point.
If McCarthy couldn’t get the most out of a receiver like that, it’s hard to see the Browns being the place where everything suddenly clicks. Cleveland’s receiving group is young, inexperienced and anchored by the inconsistent Jerry Jeudy.
So while the name will get thrown around if McCarthy hits the market, the Browns probably don’t need another quarterback reclamation story on their hands. The organization already has enough going on at the position, and the bigger picture appears to be waiting for a rookie in 2027 to become the next great hope.
If McCarthy does move on, a reunion with his former coach Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers might make more sense.
In Other News...
Browns Fans May Not Like What This Means For Shedeur Sanders
The Browns quarterback situation keeps drifting back to the same uncomfortable place for fans, with Deshaun Watson still expected to remain the starter even as the discussion around Shedeur Sanders has grown louder. Clevelands quarterback room has become a focal point of the seasons frustration, and the conversation has only widened with the possibility that the team could add another arm if it looks to the waiver wire.
Joe Milton, the former Cowboys backup, is one name to watch for a Browns team that may be looking to bolster depth while sorting out its long-term plans under center. For Sanders, that would add another layer to an already crowded and uncertain picture, even as he has already pushed back on fan criticism and asked for respect no matter how the quarterback situation unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Are Already Reworking A Key Roster Battle Before Week 1
The Browns are still fine-tuning the edges of their roster with Week 1 closing in, and the latest moves show a team willing to keep turning over the back end of the depth chart. Cleveland waived cornerback Michael Coats Jr. while adding defensive end Sam Williams and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene to the 53-man roster, and the shuffle continued with running back Jaleel McLaughlin reportedly landing on the practice squad.
It is the kind of pre-opening-week maneuvering that can hint at where the staff sees immediate help and where the room still feels unsettled. With the 2026 season about to begin, the Browns are not waiting for the calendar to force their hand, and the next roster decision could say plenty about how they plan to sort out a few lingering competition spots. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jeudys New Browns Role Says Plenty About This Offense
Jerry Jeudys place in the Browns offense is already looking a little different this summer, and it says a lot about how Cleveland is trying to sort through its passing game. After adding new receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, the Browns moved Jeudy to the Z spot, a change that should keep him moving around and make better use of the quickness and separation skills that have long defined his game.
Coach Todd Monken framed the shift as part of an ongoing experiment with receiver roles, which fits a unit still searching for the right pieces and the right fit. The larger question hanging over it all is the quarterback situation, because even a smart alignment on paper only matters if Cleveland can get steady play behind it and turn those matchups into something more than a rotation of ideas. [Read more 🡒]