The Cleveland Browns may be back in the quarterback market this offseason, as the team shuffled through multiple starters in 2025, and none were overly impressive.
One of Cleveland’s starting signal-callers was Dillon Gabriel, who started six games and posted an abysmal 1-5 record. Shedeur Sanders finished the year as the Browns’ starter, tossing seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions with a 3-4 record.
It would be wise for Cleveland to evaluate external quarterback options, and Sportsnaut’s Matt Johnson predicts the Browns will trade Gabriel and the No. 70 overall pick in April’s draft to the San Francisco 49ers for Mac Jones.
Here is what Johnson had to say about the hypothetical trade:
“In a move like this, the Cleveland Browns move off 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and trade their highest third-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Jones would provide legitimate competition for Shedeur Sanders in training camp, without general manager Andrew Berry having to use his top three picks on a quarterback.”
Jones had a nice year with the 49ers in 2025, as he started eight games filling in for an injured Brock Purdy and threw 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. The former first-round pick of the New England Patriots also led San Francisco to a 5-3.
After a promising season with the 49ers, Jones is ready to compete for a starting job once again, and Cleveland would give him that opportunity.
The Browns haven’t committed to Sanders as their starter in 2026, so acquiring Jones to compete for the starting job in training camp with the Colorado product would be a logical move.
It could be tough to trade for Jones, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently reported that the 49ers have no plans to trade their backup signal-caller this offseason.
However, if the right offer presents itself, San Francisco could move Jones, and Cleveland could make that offer to set up a quarterback battle this summer.
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