The Cleveland Browns are heading into 2026 with the most expensive quarterback room in the NFL-and that’s largely due to Deshaun Watson’s massive contract. But even with Watson on the books and two young signal-callers in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel behind him, the Browns are expected to add another veteran arm to the mix this offseason.
That said, not every quarterback on the market is expected to jump at the opportunity. In fact, one potential free agent-Green Bay’s Malik Willis-has been advised to steer clear of Cleveland altogether.
The reason? A shaky supporting cast that raises some real red flags for any quarterback looking to take the next step in their career.
The Browns were recently pegged as the least attractive landing spot for Willis, with concerns centered around two key areas: the offensive line and the receiving corps. The line, in particular, has been a major liability-one of the worst in the league last season-and it showed. Cleveland struggled to protect its quarterbacks, and that lack of stability up front made life difficult for everyone under center.
As for the weapons on the outside, the Browns don’t exactly have a deep or dependable group of pass-catchers. That’s a tough sell for a quarterback like Willis, who’s trying to build on the flashes he showed in Green Bay. Dropping him into a situation where protection is spotty and targets are limited could stall his development-or worse, send his stock plummeting back to where it was when Tennessee dealt him for a future seventh-round pick.
Last season’s struggles in Cleveland weren’t just about quarterback play. Yes, Sanders and Gabriel were rookies thrown into the fire, and growing pains were inevitable.
But the Browns didn’t do much to ease their transition. The offensive line was porous, and the lack of reliable receivers left little margin for error.
For a team trying to develop young talent-or attract a veteran who can steady the ship-that’s a problem.
So before Cleveland starts dialing up free agents or weighing trade options at quarterback, the front office has some serious work to do. Reinforcing the offensive line has to be priority number one.
Without better protection, no quarterback-rookie, veteran, or otherwise-can thrive. And adding a true difference-maker at wide receiver wouldn’t hurt, either.
The Browns have invested heavily in the quarterback position, but if they want that investment to pay off, they’ll need to build a better foundation around it. Until then, Cleveland may have a hard time convincing any quarterback-especially one like Willis, who’s trying to prove he belongs-to bet on them.