Browns' New Star Fires Warning Shot At Steelers And Rest Of AFC North Claiming Cleveland Has 2 Elite QBs

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't stacked up well against the rest of the AFC North in terms of quarterback talent since Ben Roethlisberger hung up his cleats following the 2021 season. For years, pundits have pointed to the remarkable quarterback play across the division. The Cincinnati Bengals are led by Joe Burrow, while the Baltimore Ravens have two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. The Cleveland Browns and the Steelers have often been viewed as the odd team out, but they still possess one of the league's more intriguing quarterback rooms.

Everyone knows the story surrounding Deshaun Watson. At one point, he was taking the NFL by storm. From 2017 through 2020 with the Houston Texans, Watson established himself as one of the league's brightest young stars and one of its elite quarterbacks. Then came his legal issues, followed by a string of injuries that derailed his career. Since then, Watson has been attempting to regain his elite form, but his health and extended time away from football have prevented him from returning to the level that once made him one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks.

Meanwhile, the Steelers enter the 2026 season with a quarterback room consisting of Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar. The Browns, on the other hand, feature an intriguing group of quarterbacks that includes Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Taylen Green.

While much of the attention has centered on the competition behind Watson, a new member of Cleveland's defense made an eye-opening statement about the Browns' quarterback room. During an appearance on Good Morning Football on Wednesday, newly acquired Browns star Jared Verse, who arrived in the blockbuster Myles Garrett trade, claimed Cleveland has not one, but two elite quarterbacks.

"These are two great quarterbacks," Verse said while speaking on the show. "I'm honestly excited to see how it goes further in the preseason, but so far, I've just seen two elite quarterbacks battling it out."

First things first, what else is Verse going to say? He's not going to arrive at his new team and immediately start making negative comments about his teammates.

When the blockbuster Garrett trade became official and it was revealed the Los Angeles Rams were sending Verse to Cleveland, the young pass rusher was going from one of the NFL's top contenders to one of the league's most uncertain franchises. That can't be an easy adjustment early in his career.

It's also possible Verse is simply embracing his new situation and showing confidence in the players around him. After all, he spent the past two seasons watching a true elite quarterback in Matthew Stafford and competing against him every day in practice. Now, he's joining a quarterback room led by Watson, alongside young prospects Sanders, Gabriel, and Green.

Steelers Remain Hopeful Browns Don't Figure QB Out Anytime Soon

Still, Verse didn't hesitate to label Cleveland's quarterback room as having two elite quarterbacks. Steeler Nation will be keeping a close eye on how the Browns' quarterback situation unfolds during the 2026 season. The hope in Pittsburgh, of course, is that Verse's confidence proves to be misplaced.

If Cleveland does somehow uncover an elite quarterback, the balance of power in the AFC North could shift quickly. Until that happens, though, the Steelers and the rest of the division will likely remain skeptical of Verse's lofty assessment. The AFC North is set to be one of the most intriguing divisions in the NFL in 2026, and the Steelers are once again at the center of that conversation.

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