The Cleveland Browns ended their 2025 season on a high note, celebrating wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals with quarterback Shedeur Sanders at the helm.
While Shedeur, a fifth-round pick with plenty of hype surrounding him, showed flashes in his first year, many still think the Browns need to add another veteran arm to compete for the starting job, while others want the Browns to draft a whole new quarterback.
Who are the names and faces that could enter this room? From college stars like Fernando Mendoza to first-round pick retreads like Mac Jones, here are five quarterbacks who may be in the Browns’ room for 2026.
Ty Simpson, Alabama Crimson Tide
Ty Simpson, the Alabama Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback and son of a college head coach, has recently declared for the 2026 NFL draft. Many view Simpson as the second-best quarterback in this draft due to his up-and-down play during the 2025 college football season, as well as his smaller, 6-foot-2 frame.
Simpson, based on the information and opinions at the time of writing, could even potentially fall to Day 2 of the NFL draft. Despite the fact that he would be relatively easy to acquire for a top-2 QB, I do not see the Browns pursuing Simpson. The offensive side of the Browns’ roster has so many holes that drafting a talent like Simpson in the first three rounds would not be worth the risk. I view Ty Simpson as a low possibility addition.
Malik Willis, Green Bay Packers
Malik Willis, a former third-round pick who some viewed as the best quarterback in the 2022 NFL draft, has put together a few promising games as the backup quarterback in Green Bay. Many see Willis as the next Sam Darnold or Geno Smith story in this league. Despite this, it seems Willis will command a pretty penny on the open market as he is a free agent heading into the offseason.
If Browns GM Andrew Berry can land Willis on a solid-value deal, I could see him joining the roster, but that is a big if. I view Willis as a so-so at best possibility to join the Browns.
Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers
Mac Jones is another name many point to as being the next Sam Darnold or Geno Smith story in the NFL.
Jones stepped up for the 49ers this season when starter Brock Purdy went down with a toe injury and put together a promising string of games to keep San Francisco’s playoff hopes alive. Many, however, myself included, view Jones as fool’s gold as he was playing under the highly regarded offensive mind of Kyle Shanahan. This, mixed with San Francisco’s presumably high asking price, as Jones is not a free agent, makes me believe that he has little chance to be a Cleveland Brown in 2026.
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Hoosiers
Mendoza, 22, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, comes in at a staggering 6-foot-5 and has all of the tools you would look for in a QB draft prospect. He is all but a lock for the No. 1 overall pick following his College Football Playoff semifinal performance against Oregon. The Browns do have the means to trade up and get Mendoza if they view him as their guy, but it is going to cost plenty of draft capital, considering the team with the first overall pick, the Raiders, desperately need a quarterback following a down year from their starter, Geno Smith. Mendoza is a less-than-likely option for 2026.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Last but not least is my dark horse contender for potential addition to the Browns quarterback room in 2026, Anthony Richardson. Richardson, the former No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, has all of the tools, athleticism, etc. that warrant his high draft status. Despite this, Richardson has yet to put anything of note together in the NFL, as poor performance and consistent injuries have hindered him.
This, however, could play into Browns GM Andrew Berry’s favor. Pending a low asking price, Berry, who is a known deal shopper of a GM, could sneak in and grab a guy many still see as having high upside. Will that happen? Will the Colts agree to such a deal? That remains to be seen. But if the price is right, I see Anthony Richardson as a solid possibility to be added to the Browns quarterback room in 2026.
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