Browns among many teams uncertain at the QB position; “franchise QBs” rare long-term

Few, if any, Cleveland Browns fans believe the team has its long-term franchise quarterback on the current roster. Most hope that Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, or Taylen Green become that guy, and quickly. Given veteran QB Deshaun Watson’s history, age, and injuries, a future in Cleveland seems unlikely, even with extension rumors starting before the team’s Week 5 loss.

The NFL continues to undergo an interesting process, with no end in sight, as usual, when it comes to winning Super Bowls. At one point, it was assumed (because of Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, etc.) that a team had to have a top-level quarterback to be in championship discussions.

Then, Jalen Hurts and Sam Darnold, both good to very good but not considered at the same level as those players listed above, won the last two Super Bowls with great supporting rosters around them. As the league pivoted to smaller, faster defenders, the importance of the running back increased, including Super Bowl MVP and Kansas City Chiefs’ huge free-agent addition Kenneth Walker.

The quarterback position has also struggled to keep up with Brady, Drew Brees, and others retiring, while Stafford and Aaron Rodgers are on the doorstep of moving out of the league.

This week alone led to even more “franchise quarterback” discussions, with Los Angeles Chargers Justin Herbert and Denver Broncos Bo Nix struggling and a potentially very serious health issue for Hurts. Jackson will miss Week 6 versus the Browns, has a contract that needs to be addressed before next season ($84 million cap number), and has a history of injuries and playoff flameouts.

In fact, if we use the following criteria, there are few teams that feel confident that they have a franchise quarterback for the long term:

• 35 years old or younger
• Limited injury history
• Proven top-level track record during the regular season of carrying the team to multiple wins
• Playoff success and/or reasonable expectations of such
• Under contract for multiple seasons that are likely to be picked up or extended

Certain Franchise QBs

• Patrick Mahomes
• Josh Allen
• Caleb Williams
• Brock Purdy
• Drake Maye
• Jordan Love
• Dak Prescott

Arguments could be made for a few other names to make the list and against a few on this list, that is what our comment section is for.

QBs that barely missed the list and why

• Joe Burrow – Injuries
• Baker Mayfield – Injuries, needs more playoff success
• Trevor Lawrence – Lacks playoff performances
• Matt Stafford – Age
• Jared Goff – Rarely carries the Lions
• Justin Herbert – Overall and playoff success lacking
• Lamar Jackson – Injuries, contract, playoff success lacking
• Jalen Hurts – Newly added due to blood clot, contract coming up, and questions about carrying the Eagles
• Aaron Rodgers – Age, recent seasons’ performances
• Jayden Daniels – Injuries
• CJ Stroud – Contract, playoff performance lacking, questions about him carrying the Texans

Then there are the younger quarterbacks, like Nix, Cam Ward, Fernando Mendoza, and others who could join one of the above lists.

The point is, there are fewer than 10 franchise quarterbacks that can be counted on for now and the future for their current teams. Cleveland is hoping to find one, but as quickly as Herbert, Nix, Burrow, Mayfield, Lawrence, Jackson, etc. look like THE guy, we’ve seen quarterbacks fall off.

Browns GM Andrew Berry has done a very good job of building the roster, including adding two wide receivers and two offensive linemen who are already holding their own as rookies. While adding a top-level quarterback, at least one who will join one of the two lists above, is vital, it is rarer than ever.

We know lists lead to arguments, so who is on the wrong list? Who deserves to be on a list that they are not on? What do you think when you see all the different quarterback names noted above?