The Cleveland Browns are once again staring down the barrel of a quarterback dilemma heading into the 2026 offseason. With no clear answer under center, the team continues its search for a stabilizing force at the game’s most important position.
One name that’s resurfacing? Russell Wilson.
Wilson, who spent last season with the New York Giants, is back on the free-agent market after a rocky stint in the Big Apple. The veteran quarterback completed just 58 percent of his passes for 831 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions across six games - only three of which he started. He eventually lost the starting job to rookie Jaxson Dart, and later revealed he had been playing through a hamstring injury for much of the season.
Despite the underwhelming numbers and a noticeable decline in his on-field impact, there’s buzz that the Browns could revisit their previous interest in Wilson. They reportedly met with him last offseason before he opted to sign with the Giants. Now, with a quarterback vacancy still looming, some believe Cleveland could circle back.
Analyst Moe Moton floated the idea in a recent column, suggesting that Wilson might still have something left in the tank and could offer experience and stability - especially for a team like the Browns, who are looking for both. And there’s a certain symmetry to the idea: Wilson, after all, is an Ohio native.
But here’s the reality - and it’s a tough one for fans of Wilson’s early-career brilliance to accept - the former Super Bowl champ hasn’t looked like himself in quite some time. His trademark deep ball, once among the most lethal weapons in the league, has lost its bite.
His ability to escape pressure and extend plays? Not what it used to be.
Injuries have taken their toll, and so has time. At this point, Wilson is no longer the dynamic dual-threat quarterback who could take over a game at any moment.
That doesn’t mean he can’t contribute somewhere - but the fit in Cleveland is questionable at best. The Browns are in a fragile spot.
They’ve come off another losing season and desperately need to build something sustainable, not just patch holes with aging veterans. Wilson may offer experience, but he doesn’t bring long-term upside.
That’s a tough sell for a franchise that needs to start thinking beyond short-term fixes.
If the Browns are looking for familiarity with offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s system, there are other options with more upside. Jameis Winston, for example, has already played under Monken and could be a more logical bridge option if they go the veteran route. But even that approach feels like treading water.
The smarter play might be to lean into their young quarterbacks - give them a real shot to prove themselves. If one of them pops, great.
If not, the team will be in a position to reset and potentially draft a new face of the franchise in 2027. That’s not punting on the season; that’s building with purpose.
As for Wilson, his legacy is already secure. He was one of the most exciting quarterbacks of his generation, a magician with the ball in his hands and a winner at the highest level.
But that version of Russ hasn’t been around for a while now. If he wants to keep playing, there may still be a role for him somewhere - just not in Cleveland, where the Browns need clarity, not more questions.