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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders faces an uncertain future.
The Cleveland Browns will explore all their options this offseason as they look for a sustainable solution at quarterback, which could include intriguing options, like Trey Lance.
Lance was floated as a potential option for the Browns by Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Jackson theorized who could be starting for the Browns a year from now and highlighted the former No. 3 pick — who will be a free agent this offseason — as an option.
“Is Lance the biggest example of why teams should be wary of using early draft picks on quarterbacks who lack significant college experience? Or is Lance just the latest example of why teams never stop trying to identify and develop quarterbacks who struggle early in their NFL careers?” Jackson said. “In either case, he’s interesting. And he’ll be eligible for free agency after spending 2025 as the Los Angeles Chargers’ backup.”
The sample size is small for Lance, despite his draft placement. Lance has appeared in just 15 games with five regular-season starts and has not thrown a touchdown pass since his rookie season. He has since served in backup roles, spending time with the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Other potential options laid out include Mac Jones, Joe Flacco, and Malik Willis.
Browns Have Decision to Make on Shedeur Sanders
The Browns have a potential solution to their quarterback woes on the roster in Shedeur Sanders, who has shown some upside in his five starts this season. Despite his 1-4 record as the starter, Sanders has demonstrated dynamic playmaking ability and has been praised for his work ethic.
Sanders has been playing behind a patchwork offensive line, with few weapons around him. He’s passed for 1,103 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions.
If the Browns choose to roll with Sanders next season, it would mean passing on the top prospects in the draft. Cleveland holds two first-round picks and is currently slated to have the No. 3 overall selection.
“Sanders clearly has some talent and has shown enough accuracy to warrant further development,” Jackson said. “If the Browns don’t love their high-cost quarterback options by March or April, they could let Sanders compete for the job in 2026 and see if he’s capable of making big strides.”
Deshaun Watson Still Lurking for Browns
Deshaun Watson is another potential option for the Browns — although one most fans do not want to see again. Watson is coming off a pair of Achilles surgeries that kept him out of football for more than a year. He returned to practice in early December but the Browns declined to add him to the active roster when his 21-day window closed this week.
It means Watson will not practice with the team the rest of the season but he can continue his rehab at the facility. All signs point to Watson being on the roster next season, thanks in large part to his fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Parting ways with Watson would result in significant dead cap.
Watson has gone 9-10 as the starter since a 2022 blockbuster trade. Owner Jimmy Haslam publicly called the move for Watson a “swing and miss” during the offseason.
J.R. DeGroote JR DeGroote is a staff writer for Heavy.com, where he has covered the NFL, NBA, and trending sports stories since 2019. His work focuses on some of the most passionate fanbases in sports, including reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about J.R. DeGroote
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