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ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed the Cleveland Browns add quarterback competition for Shedeur Sanders after a trade back into the first round.

The Cleveland Browns have never quite gotten the quarterback position right, since they re-entered the league in 1999 the Browns have started a record 42 QBs.

Currently, the Browns look as if they will have an open competition between second-year QBs Dillon Gabriel and Sheduer Sanders, while veteran Deshaun Watson could still be in the mix depending on his health.

New Head Coach Todd Monken has not committed to a QB1 just yet but did say at league meetings that Sanders had been in the building, ““It’s too early to really evaluate Sanders, other than it’s been great that he’s been in the building,” Monken said. “It’s refreshing to see a player that recognizes where he’s at and where he wants to get to.”

Draft Day Trade

Neither Sheduer Sanders nor Dillon Gabriel looked particularly great last season and Deshaun Watson has only made 19 starts since 2020. If the Browns want to add to the competition the trade to make is for Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson.

Cleveland would give up pick no. 146 to Indianapolis in return for Richardson.

The Browns are entering the offseason with Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson as the top three quarterbacks on its roster, and not necessarily in that order. The Browns are starting a long-term offensive rebuild and figure to be a strong player for a franchise QB early in the 2027 draft. But that may or may not pan out.

Richardson will cost around $5.4 million and a fifth-rounder and provides competition for/an alternative to Sanders as a potential long-term answer under center. Indianapolis permitted Richardson to seek a trade in late February. A quality fifth-round pick is a good enough return to make a deal.

Richardson is entering his fourth season in the league and has had an up-and-down career. During his rookie campaign, he made just four starts but in 2024 Richardson was handed the keys to the Indianapolis Colts‘ offense and started 11 games leading Indy to a 6-5 record.

Last year was bizarre for Richardson. First, he was beaten out of the starting job by Daniel Jones which resulted in Richardson only attempting two passes the entire season. The Florida man has been sidelined since early October after suffering a freak eye injury. The QB was warming up before his team’s week six game against the Cardinals where he suffered an orbital fracture. The incident occurred in the locker room, where players use an apparatus to attach their warm-up bands. The device malfunctioned, causing the band to snap back and strike Richardson in the face. He was subsequently taken to a hospital.

Colts’ general manager Chris Ballard discussed the idea to move Richardson and his recovery, “He is still recovering a little bit and is doing everything to get back,” Ballard said. “We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time. So at this point, he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.”

The Browns will be helping that this is the year either from the draft, a trade, or from a player outside the organization that the QB position is finally figured out.