Andrew Berry didn’t slam the door on adding an outside quarterback this offseason, but if the Browns do go shopping, it shouldn’t be for Malik Willis.
Willis is expected to command somewhere in the $30–40 million range, and that simply doesn’t line up with Cleveland’s salary cap reality. Deshaun Watson’s contract still looms large on the books, and tying up more major money in a quarterback who has barely played just doesn’t add up. That should be a non-starter for Berry.
The national media hype linking Willis to Cleveland is unfounded said longtime Browns analyst Tony Grossi on ESPN radio, and is a “lazy” take because of the team’s uncertainty at the position. One example is this X post quoting NFL insider Jason La Canfora:
Per @JasonLaCanfora Both the #Browns and #Dolphins are two of the most interested teams in QB Malik Willis in free agency
The speculation could be a deal similar to Justin Fields 2-years, 40 Million (30 Guaranteed)
This report indicates that Willis made a strong impression on…
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) February 10, 2026
More: Browns warning: Don’t fall for the $40M Malik Willis hype and salary cap trap
Willis started one game this past season (a Packers loss) and has yet to show he can carry an offense over a long stretch. Investing that much cash in a dart throw QB with all the cap restraints already in place is a pipe dream at best.
If the Browns add a quarterback, the move should be about stability, not splash.
Tyler “Snoop” Huntley makes far more sense. He’s a reliable veteran backup who’s handled meaningful snaps, kept teams afloat, and understands what it means to step in without derailing a locker room.
He’s also been through Browns training camp before, and new head coach Todd Monken knows him well from their time in Baltimore. Maybe most appealing is that he won’t break the bank.
The priority in 2026 should be simple. Find out what you truly have in Shedeur Sanders by giving him a proper training camp and taking reps with the starters. A secondary goal should be seeing whether Deshaun Watson has anything left to contribute coming off of two Achilles surgeries.
A steady backup like Huntley supports that plan. A pricey gamble on Willis only muddies it.
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