6 teams that should trade for Shedeur Sanders after latest Browns starting QB news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There was a strong belief that Shedeur Sanders had a good chance to be the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback in 2026.
However, that notion took a big hit on Wednesday, when Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Deshaun Watson is the favorite over Sanders.
Cabot revealed that Watson took over as favorite during the teams' recent voluntary minicamp. She also noted that head coach Todd Monken would ideally like to have things figured out by June.
"Deshaun Watson emerged from the Browns’ voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition — and has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1, sources tell cleveland.com," Cabot said.
"Coach Todd Monken hopes to declare — or at least identify — his starter by the end of Browns minicamp June 9-11, meaning Sanders has about six weeks to close the gap and try to overtake the former three-time Pro Bowler," Cabot added.
Things clearly aren't looking good for Sanders, who has "plenty of ground to make up" to catch Watson, Cabot said.
If Sanders doesn't secure the starting job this offseason, it's possible the Browns will look to trade him. Here's six teams that should have interest.
The Packers are currently set to rely on either Kyle McCord or Desmond Ridder as their backup after Malik Willis left in free agency.
Neither quarterback is even close to a sure thing. McCord has never taken a snap in a regular season game and Ridder hasn't seen game action since 2024.
This situation can't stand for a win-now team like the Packers that could miss the playoffs if Jordan Love misses so much as one game due to injury.
The Cardinals drafted Carson Beck to add to a quarterbacks room that also includes Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, but the long-term answer may not be in that room.
As a rookie, Beck is, of course, unproven, and both Minshew and Brissett are journeymen backups. Adding to that, Brissett is holding out for a new deal.
That's right, Jacoby Brissett is holding out. That tells you all you need to know about Arizona's quarterbacks room.
The fourth-round selection of Cade Klubnik shouldn't — and likely won't — stop the Jets from exploring their options under center.
Geno Smith is in place to start in 2026, but he was one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL last season and isn't a long-term solution.
The Jets are reportedly flirting with Russell Wilson, but he offers zero long-term upside and, at this point, may not even be better than Sanders after what we've witnessed out of him in recent years.
With the addition of Kyler Murray this offseason, J.J. McCarthy's days as the team's starter might be numbered.
If he loses out to Murray in an offseason competition, which we think he will, the Vikings might consider trading the Michigan product.
If so, the Vikings will need another backup quarterback, unless they trust Max Brosmer, which they shouldn't.