Let’s be honest. Being a Cleveland fan right now feels a bit like watching a high-stakes poker game where your team is playing with a stack of chips they found in the couch cushions. The Browns QB signing decision for 2026 isn't just a personnel move. It's an existential crisis. Everyone has a take, but the reality on the ground in Berea is a lot more tangled than the national talking heads want to admit.
Andrew Berry is in a corner. He’s standing there with a massive, guaranteed contract hanging around the franchise’s neck like a lead weight, two young QBs who look more like "maybe" than "definitely," and a coaching search that is basically a job interview for whoever is brave enough to fix this mess.
The Deshaun Watson Reality Check
You’ve heard the rumors that he’s gone. You’ve seen the social media posts begging for a release. But the money says something else entirely. Deshaun Watson is due $46 million guaranteed in 2026. That is the final year of that infamous $230 million deal.
Cutting him isn't just hard. It's a cap-suicide mission. If they move on now, they’re staring at over $80 million in dead cap space. Berry recently admitted as much in his end-of-season presser, noting he "anticipates" Watson will be on the 2026 roster. He’s back. Whether you like it or not, he’s probably going to be in Berea when training camp opens.
He hasn't played a snap since October 2024. Two Achilles surgeries in a row is a nightmare for a guy who relies on his legs to create. He’s 30 now. In 19 games with the Browns, his QBR is 33.1. That’s tied for the worst in the league among qualifiers.
But here is the twist: Watson might actually be the "bridge" starter. The team liked what they saw when they opened his practice window in December. He didn't play in a game, but he was there. He was acting like a veteran mentor to the kids. If a new coach like John Harbaugh or Mike McDaniel comes in, they might see Watson as the only viable short-term option while they groom the next guy.
The Shedeur Sanders Gamble
Then there’s Shedeur. He was the 144th pick. A fifth-rounder! Most people expected him to sit and learn, but the Browns’ 2025 season was such a train wreck that he ended up starting the last seven games.
He went 3-4. Not amazing, but he won his final two starts. He completed 56.6% of his passes and threw 10 interceptions. That’s a lot of picks. But the kid has "it." He’s got that confidence. He’s not scared.
General Manager Andrew Berry called him a "work in progress." That’s GM-speak for "we aren't sold yet." But something happened this week that changed everything for Shedeur’s future. Dante Moore, the star QB from Oregon, decided to stay in school.
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Why does that matter for Cleveland? Because it thinned out the 2026 draft class. The Browns have the No. 6 pick. If they can’t get a guy like Fernando Mendoza, and they don’t want to reach for someone like Ty Simpson, Shedeur Sanders becomes the default plan.
- Watson is the expensive veteran.
- Sanders is the high-upside project.
- Dillon Gabriel is the odd man out after a 1-5 start as a rookie.
It’s a weird room. It’s a room built on "what if" rather than "what is."
Who Actually Makes the Call?
The Browns QB signing decision isn't just up to Andrew Berry. They fired Kevin Stefanski after a 5-12 season. This means the new head coach is going to walk into the room and demand a say.
Mary Kay Cabot has been reporting that if they land a big fish like John Harbaugh, he’s going to be the "sole decision-maker." He’s not going to take the job if he’s forced to play a specific guy.
They are interviewing everyone. Grant Udinski from the Jaguars. Jesse Minter from the Chargers. Mike McDaniel. Whomever they hire will look at the tape of Shedeur Sanders and then look at the $46 million they owe Watson.
It’s a math problem as much as a football problem.
Some fans are clamoring for a trade. Maybe Mac Jones? Maybe a move up for Mendoza? But Berry has been clear: they need to fix the offensive line first. That unit ranked 32nd in PFF pass-blocking. It doesn't matter if you have Patrick Mahomes back there if Joel Bitonio retires and the rest of the line is a sieve.
What the 2026 QB Room Likely Looks Like
Expect a three-way "competition" that isn't really a competition.
Watson will be there because he has to be. He’ll probably start Week 1 to see if there’s anything left in the tank. Shedeur Sanders will be the shadow. He’ll be waiting for the first sign of a Watson struggle or another injury.
The "signing" part of this decision will likely be a cheap, veteran backup. Someone like Marcus Mariota or a low-level free agent who can hold a clipboard and not cause drama. They aren't going to spend big money on a free agent QB when they’re already paying Watson $46 million.
It’s about survival.
The Browns have a second first-round pick from the Jaguars trade. They could use that to grab a receiver or a tackle. They are trying to build a nest for a quarterback to eventually succeed in, rather than just throwing another body into the fire.
Moving Forward: The Action Plan
If you're trying to track how this plays out, watch the coaching hire first. That is the domino that knocks everything else over.
- Monitor the Head Coach Hire: If it’s an offensive "guru," they likely want to develop Shedeur. If it’s a veteran like Harbaugh, expect more reliance on Watson or a veteran trade.
- Watch the Salary Cap Maneuvers: If the Browns restructure Watson’s deal in March, it means he’s 100% staying. That move would clear about $34 million in space but make him even harder to cut later.
- Follow the Pro Days: With the No. 6 pick, the Browns will be at every major QB workout. If they don't fall in love with a top-three prospect, Shedeur Sanders is your 2026 project.
- Draft Strategy: Look for the Browns to use their extra picks on the offensive line. A quarterback is only as good as the guys blocking for him, and Cleveland's line is currently a mess.
The 2026 season is the final chapter of the Watson era one way or another. Whether it ends with a redemption story or a total rebuild, the decisions made in the next two months will define the franchise for the next decade.