The Cleveland Browns search for a franchise QB could linger into 2027, making this potential NFL Draft move a necessity come April
The Cleveland Browns are nose deep in their search for a new head coach, so thinking about the NFL Draft three months away may seem premature. But as soon as Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry finds his next thought partner, his focus will quickly turn toward trying to identify another home run class of rookies to fix the Browns roster.
With the Browns owning two first-round picks this year, Berry is actually well-positioned to pull it off for a second-straight year.
Doing so may require him to execute exactly what he did last year on draft night, only from the No. 6 pick instead of the second overall pick. Yes, Cleveland should absolute be thinking already about trading back from their first selection in the top 10.
At the root of such a move is Dante Moore's decision to go back to Oregon for 2026. With Moore foregoing the NFL, this year's QB draft class isn't exactly loaded with star power. Fernando Mendoza is the grand prize, with a gap in between him and Ty Simpson, who is now expected to be the No. 2 QB, then others will fall in line accordingly.
It sets the stage for next year's class to potentially be a loaded one, featuring the likes Moore, maybe Arch Manning, LaNorris Sellers, among others. Obviously that's subject to change with a whole college season to still play out.
The Browns are caught in that awkward QB purgatory at the moment, though. And punting on finding a franchise signal caller feels inevitable considering where they're drafting.
Shedeur Sanders showed some promise in his seven starts as a rookie. Enough to make everyone wonder if maybe, just maybe he can be the team's QB of the future, but not enough for Berry and company to totally commit to him as the starter for 2026.
He should get his shot to compete for the job in a QB room that's likely also going to include embattled veteran Deshaun Watson. Perhaps, fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel and maybe another veteran? A lot of that will be determined by who the next head coach is.
Either way, 2026 figures to be a gap year for the Browns, where they figure out who they are and what they want at the QB position. If nobody emerges as a standout, they can be right back in position to draft one next year, with a class that is at least anticipated to be stronger.
Much like last year's draft night trade with the Jaguars to drop from No. 2 overall to No. 5 overall and add a second first this year, a trade back from No. 6 overall should command another valuable package of picks that gives the Browns similar flexibility in 2027.
That doesn't mean they have to drop out of the top 10 either. Teams immediately behind them in the order, like Washington at 7, New Orleans at 8 and division rival Cincinnati at 10 all have defensive needs and could be tempted to move up for certain players, i.e., Caleb Downs, perhaps?
Moving back just a few spots would still keep the Browns in line to bolster their biggest needs on offense, particularly on the offensive line and at wide receiver, with a top 10 pick, while circling back to address the other one with the Jags pick.
There is plenty of time to figure it out. But in mid-Janaury, trading back feels like it's already the most prudent draft night move.