The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback room is crowded-and that might be putting it lightly.
Heading into 2026, the Browns are looking at a three-way competition under center featuring Deshaun Watson, who’s expected to return healthy, and two young arms from last year’s draft class: Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. That’s already a full plate for head coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff. But there’s been some chatter about adding another name to the mix-veteran quarterback and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson.
Wilson, who’s set to hit free agency this offseason, has made it clear he wants to keep playing. After a brief and bumpy stint with the New York Giants last season-just three starts before being benched in favor of rookie Jaxon Dart-Wilson is looking for a fresh opportunity. And he’s not lacking in confidence.
“I’m not blinking,” Wilson said recently. “I know what I’m capable of. I think I showed that in Dallas, and I want to be able to do that again… be ready to rock and roll, and be as healthy as possible and be ready to play ball.”
That mindset is classic Wilson-resilient, optimistic, and still chasing greatness. But the reality is, his play hasn’t matched the rhetoric in recent years.
His decline began in Denver, where things never quite clicked, and while he flashed some of the old magic early in his 2024 run with the Steelers, the second half of that season was a struggle. His short-lived starting role in New York only added to the narrative: Wilson isn’t the player he once was.
At this stage of his career, Wilson needs a strong infrastructure around him-a top-tier offensive line, reliable weapons, a defense that can give him short fields to work with. That’s not quite the situation in Cleveland. The Browns have talent, no doubt, but they’re not built to carry a quarterback who needs that level of support to succeed.
From a roster-building standpoint, adding Wilson to this Browns team doesn’t make a ton of sense-unless something changes dramatically. If Deshaun Watson were to suffer another setback or if the Browns decide to move on from him entirely, then yes, bringing in a seasoned veteran like Wilson could provide a short-term stabilizing presence. But as things stand, there’s been no indication Cleveland is ready to part ways with Watson.
And with Sanders and Gabriel both in the early stages of their development, the Browns already have a pair of young quarterbacks who need reps and attention. Adding Wilson could muddy the waters more than it clears them.
So while Wilson is still chasing another chapter in his NFL story, it’s hard to see that chapter being written in Cleveland. The Browns have their hands full already-and unless something shifts, don’t expect Wilson to be part of the quarterback equation in 2026.