The Cleveland Browns are set to have an open competition for their starting quarterback position in 2026, as announced by general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Todd Monken during the NFL Scouting Combine. While most discussions have focused on current roster members like Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, the recent news from ESPN about the Indianapolis Colts allowing Anthony Richardson to seek a trade has sparked speculation about Cleveland”s interest in him.
However, there are several reasons why the Browns should not pursue a trade for Richardson. To begin with, Richardson has started only 15 of the 17 NFL games he has participated in, achieving an 8-7 record. His last season was marred by injury, as he lost the starting job to Daniel Jones and subsequently ended up on Injured Reserve due to a fracture in his orbital bone suffered during warmups. Over his first two years in the league, he has missed a total of 17 games due to injuries.
Richardson”s performance metrics raise concerns as well. He has thrown 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and while he has contributed 10 rushing touchdowns, he has only completed 50.6 percent of his passes. This lack of efficiency is alarming, highlighted by his average of 141.2 passing yards per game and QBR ratings of 45.0 and 47.4 in his initial two seasons, with no qualifying QBR last year. Additionally, his average of 6.7 yards per pass attempt is not particularly impressive.
The Browns already have young quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel and Sanders, who combined for 13 starts last season as rookies. Both struggled with completion percentages, with Gabriel at 59.5 percent and Sanders at 56.6 percent, along with low yards per pass attempts. Gabriel managed to win only one of his six starts, while Sanders secured three victories in seven games. The offensive line for Cleveland was inconsistent, and their receiving corps failed to establish reliability. Even with better support in Indianapolis, Richardson”s statistics did not improve significantly.
If the Browns have yet to develop Gabriel or Sanders effectively, adding Richardson appears unnecessary, as he does not provide a measurable advantage over their current options. The fact that he was drafted high should not overshadow his lack of experience, having started just 13 games in college with a 6-7 record. Would the Browns consider trading for a quarterback with comparable statistics to Richardson”s?
Moreover, Richardson has faced scrutiny for alleged immature behavior and a questionable work ethic since joining the Colts. In contrast, Watson, who is expected to contend for the starting role again, has a record of 9-10 since joining the Browns in 2022. With a completion percentage of 66.2 and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 29 to 11, Watson”s statistics greatly surpass those of Richardson, despite Watson”s recovery from two Achilles injuries.
With the current quarterback competition in Cleveland, it seems unlikely that Richardson would excel beyond a third-string role. Furthermore, finding a capable passer in the later rounds of the upcoming draft to compete with Gabriel for a third-string position should not pose much difficulty, especially considering the Browns” possession of five first-round picks. Ultimately, Richardson seems more suited as a reclamation project for another team that has the resources to nurture his development, rather than the Browns, who are already in a fierce quarterback battle.
