The Cleveland Browns quarterback situation has developed in a way that almost no one saw coming. But this season is far from the most unexpected development in the NFL.
For example, the Los Angeles Chargers have yet to win a game because of Justin Herbert’s incredible decline. Additionally, Jalen Hurts is out for the season due to multiple blood clots in his lungs following his controversial treatment with the Philadelphia Eagles.
With that in mind, insider Tony Grossi was asked if there’s a chance the Browns could pursue a veteran and pass up one of their top draft picks on a QB, and he summed it up in two words.
“Zero chance,” Grossi wrote.
Zero chance.
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) October 23, 2026
Hurts was rumored to be on his way with the Eagles before this serious setback. Grossi is right that the Browns wouldn’t want to take that risky route, especially after dealing with the absence of Deshaun Watson for most of the previous four seasons.
As for Herbert, the Chargers have given no indication they plan to part ways with him, and it’s unlikely he’ll agree to leave Los Angeles for Cleveland. Other than that, Kyler Murray did little to distinguish himself despite the loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and Daniel Jones was significantly diminished after returning from an Achilles injury for the Indianapolis Colts.
But it could be argued that if the Browns don’t re-sign Watson, they’ll at least need some sort of veteran QB to serve as a placeholder for a prospect they could land in the 2027 NFL draft. It’s unlikely to be Shedeur Sanders, who only plays one snap this season and doesn’t get an opportunity to prove himself as long as Watson keeps the Browns in playoff contention.
Cleveland’s rebuilding plan is starting to pay off, so a drastic move for someone like Hurts would be more of a setback than an improvement to those efforts.
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