After a shocking victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon, the Cleveland Browns now find themselves in an awful position heading into the 2026 NFL offseason.

While many fans have been upset with how poorly the franchise has done this regular season, many were optimistic that the struggling franchise could land a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and select a quarterback. However, the win in Week 17 now puts the Browns well out of range for either Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore.

Luckily for Cleveland, quarterback Malik Willis is set to become a free agent this offseason and could be a viable option for the Browns in 2026.

Willis, a former standout college quarterback at Liberty, was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. While many believed that he possessed the tools to be a first-round caliber player, the young playmaker would eventually slip in the draft due to many NFL teams viewing him as a project.

As a rookie, Willis would play in eight games for the Titans, but struggling in said apperences, completing 51 percent of his pass attempts for 276 yards and three touchdowns. And despite playing in three games in 2023, Tennessee would ultimately move on from him in favor of 2023 second-round pick Will Levis.

Right before the beginning of the 2024 NFL regular season, Willis would be traded to the Green Bay Packers and serve as the team’s backup quarterback behind Jordan Love. This allowed him to develop under a franchise that is known for developing quarterbacks, which has clearly paid off.

In his two seasons with the Packers, Willis has played in 11 games, while throwing for 972 passing yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. His incredible play has been on display recently, as he threw for 288 yards and one touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17, while also tallying nine rushes for 60 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

One of the main reasons why Willis was an attractive quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft was due to his dual-threat ability on offense. And after spending multiple seasons with a well-run organization, Willis was able to develop into a terrific passer who can excel within an offensive system.

Looking at how much he could sign for this offseason, Willis will likely land a deal in the $20-$30 millon range, which is comparable to the deal that quarterback Justin Fields received from the New York Jets this past offseason.

Adding Willis instead of getting into a bidding war against other teams for a top pick will allow for Cleveland to use their draft capital on rebuilding the offensive line and adding a young weapon for Willis.