The latest speculation around the Cleveland Browns has brought about a new twist on the future of Shedeur Sanders. Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot reported on Monday that the Browns have Malik Willis on their radar, who is highly sought-after in the free agent market.
Should the deal eventually become a reality, Daryl Ruiter believes the Browns have to do away with Sanders, who was the starting quarterback for the last seven games in 2025. He voiced this opinion on “Afternoon Drive on The Fan,” noting he’s going to be a distraction on the team.
“If they do ultimately end up with Malik Willis, the next move they have to make is get Shedeur Sanders out of here. …There are roles in the NFL. You shouldn’t hear from your backup quarterback, ever,” Ruiter said. “Unless he has played in a game, and it’s a post-game press conference. There’s a brand there and all that.
Daryl Ruiter also believes Malik Willis will be coming in on a long-term deal, practically limiting or ruling out the possibility of Shedeur Sanders regaining the starting role. The former Titans quarterback will also become the fourth quarterback under contract with the Browns, necessitating one to leave.
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“He’s not coming here for a two-year deal,” Ruiter said. “It’s going to be a five-year. …You’ve got people writing that he’s the number one free agent on the market right now…. Just because I say he’s getting something doesn’t mean that I think that’s what he should get. I don’t think he’s going to sign for a two-year deal.”
Mary Kay Cabot says a first-round rookie QB would also come in ahead of Shedeur Sanders
Not only will the potential signing of Malik Willis make Shedeur Sanders not return as the starter in 2026, but Mary Kay Cabot says a first-round quarterback will also come in ahead of him. The Browns are also considering drafting a quarterback, with Ty Simpson being mentioned.
“If they did draft a Ty Simpson and they drafted him high, then he would come in, I would think, ahead of Shedeur Sanders and probably be there competing with Deshaun Watson for the starting job at the jump of 2026,” Cabot said on the “Baskin and Phelps” show. That’s how I think that would probably go.
“But it’s hard to say, it depends on how a guy comes along; he’s only started 15 games in college, so you just don’t know how ready a guy is going to be. But certainly, if you draft a first-round quarterback, he’s going to jump pretty much to the head of the class of your other rookies.”
The quarterback situation with the Browns appears quite complicated heading into the 2026 season under Todd Monken. It remains to be seen what the decision of the team will be on the position in the next couple of weeks.