Not one, not two, but three current or former Cleveland Browns quarterbacks have the most to prove in the 2026 NFL season.
The Cleveland Browns franchise has hardly been a quarterback factory. Everyone has seen the jersey, everyone knows the story, and if things go south again in 2026, there will be another name added to it.
The hope is that Cleveland can find something in either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders, preferably Sanders in my opinion, that they can latch onto to have faith that he can be a guy for them going forward. Whoever it is going to be, they cannot waste any time in 2026.
The NFL on Fox’s Henry McKenna released the most recent list of the quarterbacks in the NFL who are already on the hot seat heading into the 2026 season. If you are surprised to see two current Browns quarterbacks on it, then maybe find a new hobby. If you were shocked to see two current Browns quarterbacks and one Cleveland alumnus, then pull up a chair; the first one is on me.
Are these quarterbacks on the hot seat even before the season has begun? 👀@henrycmckenna shares his list in the latest edition of Sound Smart 🔗 https://t.co/RXgKBivmYmpic.twitter.com/PcuNCmrrIp
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) July 27, 2026
Deshaun Watson is playing for his NFL career in 2026; it is truly as simple as that. If he looks as bad in 2026 as he has in his first three years in Cleveland, then he is not going to get another legitimate chance in this league. His baggage is too much for bad quarterback play. Cleveland is so close to being out from under the black cloud that he has cast on this franchise, and if things go south, he will be out as a Brown and be begging for another opportunity, but it will be in the worst situation in the league.
For Sanders, his situation isn’t as dire. If he wins the starting job and shows that he can be a legitimate quarterback in this league, then the Browns have their lottery ticket. If he shows that he is as bad as he was in his rookie year, then Cleveland will have a top-3 pick in next year’s draft, and you can bet that they are taking a quarterback.
In the latter scenario, Sanders will get another backup job somewhere and still have a chance at it, just with another organization.
Former Browns’ quarterback Baker Mayfield is in yet another tight spot as his contract is up in Tampa Bay. Just the same as it was in Cleveland, he is too much of a confusing quarterback to commit so much money to. His good is great, but his bad is awful, and he is seemingly addicted to playing injured.
This is a contract year for him. If it goes well, he is going to be able to show up to the Tampa Bay front office and demand a blank check. If it goes poorly, he is either going to have to accept a major discount, or he is going to have to find another new home yet again.
Cleveland continues their quest to find the quarterback of their future and the guy who can be the franchise player for decades to come. Maybe that guy will come one day; maybe it is a Browns fan’s dream too rich to ever become reality.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns’ QBs, past and present, under the most pressure in 2026