CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 07: Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders 12 leaves the field following the National Football League game between the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns on December 7, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, OH. Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA DEC 07 Titans at Browns EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon251207108
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 07: Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders 12 leaves the field following the National Football League game between the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns on December 7, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, OH. Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA DEC 07 Titans at Browns EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon251207108
Jan 16, 2026, 3:02 AM CUT
Browns Must Trade for Young New QB to Challenge Shedeur Sanders' Position in 2026
The Cleveland Browns' season ended with a familiar issue: The offense, starting with the QB.
Both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders failed to lift the Browns' offense as they finished 31st in passing yards per game at 165.2 yards per game. They must trade, but for whom?
New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler is a candidate. Rattler had a passer rating of 86.5 with 1,586 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions in 9 games this season. This is comparatively better than what Sanders had.
The Browns' rookie recorded a passer rating of 68.1 with 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 8 games. Many of these came in the games against the Raiders and Titans, which are still good performances, but they are also the weakest teams in the league.
As for Rattler, he did not play both these teams this season. Tyler Shough replaced him as the team struggled to win a game. And now, with him seemingly becoming the next franchise quarterback for the Saints, the Browns have the best opportunity to take a gamble on Rattler.
Overall, the 25-year-old has recorded 2,903 yards and 12 touchdowns with a completion rate of 62.7 and 10 interceptions. What also works for the Browns is that Spencer Rattler is a fifth-round pick, so the asking price will likely be a day-three pick.
Can the Browns challenge Shedeur Sanders' position from a 2026 draft QB?
Chances are low because of Dante Moore's recent decision to run it back with Oregon. "I'll be coming back to Oregon for one more year and being able to play for the Oregon Ducks and, you know, of course, reach our goal and be national champions," he said.
This leaves the Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza, and Alabama's TY Simpson as the top QBs in the 2026 draft.
The Raiders have the number 1 pick and need a quarterback, so getting Mendoza is next to impossible.
Then, after that, the New York Jets (2nd pick) and the Arizona Cardinals (3rd pick) also need a QB, which makes getting a hand on Simpson also difficult. What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments.
Written by
Reyansh Dubey
Edited by
Oajaswini Prabhu