The Cleveland Browns find themselves at yet another pivotal crossroads. While much of the attention this offseason has been centered on their evolving quarterback situation—particularly involving Deshaun Watson and the sudden buzz surrounding Shedeur Sanders—an entirely different idea is beginning to gain traction among fans and analysts alike. A growing faction within the football community is now urging the Browns to explore a trade for a quarterback not currently on anyone’s radar but sitting on the Tennessee Titans’ roster. The idea isn’t just plausible—it might be the calculated risk the Browns need to ignite an offense that’s lacked identity and consistency.
It’s no secret that the Browns have been in quarterback purgatory for decades. From Tim Couch to Johnny Manziel to Baker Mayfield and now Deshaun Watson, the position has felt like a revolving door, filled with promise but often short on results. And while the Browns paid a steep price for Watson in draft capital and guaranteed money, the returns have been shaky. His health, off-field controversies, and inconsistent on-field performance have put the franchise in a difficult position. The promise of Shedeur Sanders adds a level of future optimism, but there’s increasing doubt about whether he’s ready to lead an NFL offense in the short term. That uncertainty is creating a sense of urgency, and that urgency has led to murmurs about whether the Browns should take a swing at a trade—specifically, with the Titans.
The name gaining steam? Malik Willis. Once viewed as the future in Tennessee, Willis has found himself buried behind Will Levis and veteran Ryan Tannehill. The Titans appear to have moved on, at least in terms of prioritizing other quarterback options. Willis was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and drew early comparisons to raw but high-upside talents like Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson. His arm strength, mobility, and dual-threat capabilities were evident, but he was labeled a “project.” In Tennessee, he never really had the chance to develop in a system that embraced his athleticism. Instead, he was dropped into a traditional offense that leaned heavily on Derrick Henry and didn’t offer him the freedom to improvise or grow.
Now, as the Titans look to transition fully to Will Levis, Willis could be on the move. And for a team like the Browns, this represents a window of opportunity. Malik Willis is the kind of talent that could thrive in the right environment. He doesn’t require a massive trade package. He’s on a rookie deal, which fits the Browns’ salary cap constraints perfectly, and he offers a skillset the team currently lacks—explosiveness, unpredictability, and mobility at the quarterback position.
From a roster construction standpoint, the Browns have all the pieces in place for a playoff run. They have a top-tier defense, anchored by Myles Garrett. Their offensive line remains one of the more reliable units in the league. They have weapons in the backfield, even without Nick Chubb at full health, and Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and David Njoku provide competent receiving options. What they lack, however, is a quarterback who can consistently extend plays, escape pressure, and turn broken situations into positive yardage. Willis can do just that. In fact, it’s what he does best.
Critics will point out that Willis hasn’t proven himself in the NFL. That’s true. His limited game tape doesn’t scream “future Pro Bowler,” and he’s still raw as a passer. But that’s exactly why the timing may be perfect. With the Titans shifting in a new direction, his trade value isn’t sky-high. The Browns could potentially land him for a mid-to-late round pick—low risk, high reward. Moreover, bringing in Willis doesn’t necessarily mean giving up on Watson or Shedeur Sanders. It simply injects healthy competition into a quarterback room that could use a shake-up.
Let’s face it—the Watson experiment isn’t going according to plan. He’s missed extensive time, looked tentative in Kevin Stefanski’s system, and shown flashes of brilliance surrounded by long stretches of mediocrity. A franchise that has long struggled with quarterback identity now finds itself relying on a player whose prime may already be in the rearview mirror. If Watson falters again or struggles with injury, who’s ready to step in? That’s where a player like Malik Willis becomes invaluable.
There’s also something to be said about trajectory and timing. Willis, while still developing, might benefit tremendously from a fresh start. A change in scenery, away from the shadow of Tannehill and the pressure of a small Tennessee market that expected results instantly, could work wonders. In Cleveland, with a coach like Stefanski—who has shown he can develop quarterbacks and adjust schemes—the environment could nurture Willis’s growth. The Browns wouldn’t need to start him immediately. He could learn the system, compete in camp, and be ready if or when the moment arises.
From a locker room standpoint, a move like this could also signal to the team that the front office is refusing to settle. That they’re willing to take risks to win now. That message resonates, particularly among veterans who understand how small the championship window can be. Myles Garrett, Joel Bitonio, and other cornerstone players deserve a front office that is aggressive and calculated, not passive and patient. A Willis trade may not be a blockbuster headline, but it could be a locker room spark.
Of course, this hypothetical isn’t without challenges. The Browns would need to ensure that bringing in another quarterback doesn’t create confusion or resentment within the team. The quarterback position thrives on clarity. But in this case, the Browns are dealing with an inherently unclear situation already. The competition, if framed correctly, could sharpen focus rather than cause division.
Then there’s the bigger picture. The AFC is stacked with elite quarterback talent—Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and now even rising stars like C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence. To compete in that gauntlet, you need more than just solid quarterback play—you need game-changers. Deshaun Watson was supposed to be that. Shedeur Sanders might become that. But Willis is a wildcard—a player who, if developed correctly, could turn into a difference-maker. Sometimes, those are the gambles that separate contenders from also-rans.
As of now, there’s no confirmed trade talk between the Browns and Titans regarding Willis, but the whispers are growing louder. Fan chatter, speculative media coverage, and front office evaluations all tend to converge when there’s an opening. Tennessee’s quarterback depth chart invites such exploration, and Cleveland’s unsteady QB situation makes it a natural pairing.
For Andrew Berry, the Browns’ general manager, every move from here on out matters. The roster is good enough to win now. The defense is elite. The offense has promise. But the quarterback position remains the single point of concern—a question mark that could derail another promising season. If he believes Willis still has untapped potential, the time to act is now. There are only so many windows in the NFL, and hesitation often comes at the cost of wasted opportunity.
The idea may not sit well with every Browns fan, especially those still emotionally and financially invested in the Deshaun Watson era. But in today’s NFL, flexibility is power. Teams that rigidly stick to plans—especially when those plans aren’t working—get left behind. The Chiefs moved on from Alex Smith. The Eagles pivoted from Carson Wentz. Even the 49ers eventually made a change despite heavy investments. Good franchises adapt. The Browns have an opportunity to do the same.
In the end, a trade for Malik Willis wouldn’t be about replacing anyone immediately. It would be about options. It would be about finding new sparks, new upside, and new ways to win football games. The cost is minimal, the potential is intriguing, and the need is growing louder with each passing week. For the Cleveland Browns, a calculated swing for Malik Willis might be the unexpected move that turns their offensive fortunes around—or at least gives them one more card to play in a season that could define the franchise’s trajectory for years to come.
