Will Browns pick Shedeur Sanders over Malik Willis, Kyler Murray this offseason?

For an article published on Tuesday, ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak argued that the Cleveland Browns "should aggressively pursue and sign" current Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis once free agency opens at the start of the new league year on March 11. 

Meanwhile, some previously linked Arizona Cardinals signal-caller Kyler Murray with the Browns before it was recently reported that the Cardinals are "likely to move on from" Murray this offseason.

Also on Tuesday, Browns reporter Zac Jackson of The Athletic addressed such rumors and the future of current Cleveland quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Are Browns ready to give Shedeur Sanders a "runway" to start?

"I don’t believe they will end up being a real suitor for Malik Willis, likely the top available free-agent quarterback," Jackson wrote about the Browns. "And I don’t believe Cleveland is a real potential landing spot for Kyler Murray if Arizona decides to move on. I can see the Browns entertaining a potential trade, but I predict they pass on those ideas and give Sanders a runway to be the No. 1 quarterback for the summer and early fall."

Jackson offered his update shortly after Browns pass-rusher and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett suggested he had reason to believe that new Browns head coach Todd Monken will give Sanders "a shot to prove that he's" a long-term answer for the club at the sport's most important position. 

A 2025 fifth-round draft pick, Sanders went 3-4 across seven starts as a rookie. However, he produced some lackluster stats over those outings.

As for Willis, the 2022 third-round choice has thus far made just six career regular-season starts. This past December, he impressed onlookers when he passed for 288 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Willis also rushed for 60 yards and a pair of scores in that contest. 

Where Deshaun Watson likely will be on Browns' depth chart

Veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson was rather unspectacular over the bulk of his first 19 regular-season starts with the Browns before he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in October 2024 and then re-injured the Achilles during his recovery. That said, he is expected to remain on Cleveland's roster through the summer since he's under contract per the terms of the fully guaranteed five-year, $230M deal he signed in March 2022.

"Sanders has a chance to build on what he did late in 2025 and demonstrate to Monken that he’s ready to leap," Jackson added. "Watson stands as a fallback option because he has to be. Maybe he’s a true wild card, but little Watson did in his first three seasons in Cleveland suggests he will suddenly be an answer to leading a playoff contender."

In short, it sounds like Sanders is the early favorite to enter springtime workouts penciled in atop Cleveland's depth chart.