Browns Predicted to 'Secure One of the Top Quarterbacks' in 2027 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns are predicted to "secure one of the top quarterbacks" in the 2027 NFL Draft by Dan Graziano of ESPN. 

Graziano believes Deshaun Watson will start the season and Shedeur Sanders will take over at some point. 

However, Graziano has Watson and Sanders struggling and the Browns finishing with a putrid record again. 

"Watson struggles early, leading to Sanders taking over," Graziano wrote. "He plays well and leads the Browns into playoff contention, costing them a chance to pick high in the first round. (Their other first-rounder is the Rams' pick, which we also don't expect to be high.) The Browns go into the 2027 offseason trying to figure out whether Sanders has shown enough to be their long-term starter or whether they need to bring in competition for him. And in the end, they continue to wander the QB wilderness as they have all century."

Watson started the first preseason game against the Chicago Bears. The former Houston Texans star went 11/15 through the air for 126 passing yards. He was sacked once and turned the ball over on a fumble.

Meanwhile, Sanders went 6/11 through the air for 79 passing yards. He threw one interception in the fourth quarter.

Sanders will start the Browns' next preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Cleveland will start Watson or Sanders in Week 1 of the regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Sanders finished his rookie season with 1,400 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He went 3-4 as a starter. 

Meanwhile, since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, the lowest among qualified passers. The odds of Watson turning back the clock after an Achilles tear are pretty low, which is why many NFL pundits believe Cleveland should start Sanders so the team can fully evaluate him for an entire season.

Watson has 3,365 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns with Cleveland. He's thrown 12 interceptions. Many Cleveland fans want Sanders to start because Watson has been horrendous since getting traded to the Browns. He also dealt with off-the-field stuff.

When Watson tore his Achilles in 2024, Browns fans cheered. That should tell you everything about how Cleveland fans regard Watson. 

It is exceedingly unlikely that the Browns have a good starting quarterback on their roster. It's shaping up to be another long season for Cleveland fans. 

The Browns play the Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts this season. That's a pretty tough schedule. 

All signs point toward Cleveland missing the playoffs in Year 1 of the Todd Monken era.  

Arch Manning and Dante Moore would look good in a Browns uniform. Let's see if that happens in 2027.