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Quarterback Malik Willis #2 of the Green Bay Packers is expected to be Plan A for the Cleveland Browns this offseason.
Certainly, at this stage of the NFL offseason, everything appears to be on the table for all 32 teams when it comes to making changes, especially at key positions. And there’s not many teams as badly in need of a major change at the most important position as the Cleveland Browns, who closed out the season with Shedeur Sanders as the QB1 and Deshaun Watson floating on the injured list as he rehabs from two torn Achilles tendon injuries.
With two first round picks, at No. 6 and No. 24, plus No. 39 in the second round, the Browns have every options available to bring in another quarterback to put in the mix for the starting job in 2026. They can trade up and draft one. They can trade down and draft one. They can commit to either Sanders or Watson. They can trade for a veteran–perhaps a young project like the Colts‘ Anthony Richardson.
Or they can sign one in free agency. And according to The Athletic insider Zac Jackson, the Browns’ current preferred plan is to use free agency to add a stopgap quarterback–the top one on the market, Packers backup Malik Willis.
Browns Weighing All Options at Quarterback
Speaking with “The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show” on Thursday, Jackson revealed that after several iterations and approaches on the starting quarterback in 2026, the Browns have settled on Willis as the top option. The Browns have talked about having an open competition for the job this offseason, and it is reasonable to expect that both Watson and Sanders will be involved in that.
But the question is whether the Browns can land Willis and pretty much end the competition before it begins. It’s a risk, of course–Willis looked good as the Packers’ fill-in for Jordan Love when Love was injured in short stints over the past two seasons, but he did so by running a very conservative and protected offense, largely with star running back Josh Jacobs carrying the load.
Willis started only three games in the past two seasons, and was 2-1 in those starts.
‘The Plan Is to Go Get Malik Willis’
Here’s how Jackson explained the Browns’ approach on Willis and the quarterback competition in general:
“This year, I think the plan is to go get Malik Willis. Right? And if that doesn’t work then the plan is to trade for Anthony Richardson or go about another way to get a guy in there to compete. … But I can guarantee you the competition is not just Shedeur vs. Deshaun. It’s either Malik Willis and it’s not a competition, or it’s Shedeur vs. Deshaun vs. someone else.
“They’re out here this week deciding if they want to be in the Ty Simpson business, the Garrett Nussmeier business. They’re talking through trade costs on some of these guys and who might come available.”
Browns Could Be Priced Out of Malik Willis Market
The Browns won’t be alone in chasing Willis, though, and it is easy to imagine them bowing out if other teams get more desperate to sign Willis and drive the price to a ridiculous level. Given Willis’ lack of past production, he should be viewed as a top backup or a fringe starter–with a contract in the $10-15 million per year range.
But Willis’s timing is impeccable–there are few free-agent quarterbacks this winter, and not many enticing options at the draft in the spring. Thus, Spotrac has pushed his market value up to a two-year, $71 million contract.
The Jets or Dolphins might take that risk. But it’s hard to see the Browns shelling that out for Willis. That means a Watson vs. Sanders vs. Player X result is more likely.
Said Jackson: “Nobody knows where Malik Willis is gonna go, but they’ll be in on that. And if they don’t get it, then it is on to Plan B and that’s what they’re shuffling through now. There’s no way it’s going to be Shedeur vs. Deshaun.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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