Browns Linked To Surprising Qb Prospect In 2026 Draft

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 16, 2025, 5:12 PM

browns linked to surprising qb prospect in 2026 draft

It’s not too soon for the Cleveland Browns to be thinking about their options in the 2026 NFL Draft. Tied to that, it’s also never too soon for them to be considering how to fix their quarterback situation. Analyst Matt Wilson recently linked the Browns to a surprising QB prospect. “USC QB Jayden Maiava would look great in a Cleveland Browns uniform,” Wilson wrote on X. USC QB Jayden Maiava would look GREAT in a Cleveland #Browns uniform. 👀 #DawgPound #NFLDraft2026 pic.twitter.com/LziFEUkgWK

— Matt Wilson (@CoachWilson66) November 7, 2025 The Cleveland Browns lost in humiliating fashion to the New York Jets. The Browns shut down the Jets for the majority of the game. Unfortunately, the Jets scored on three explosive plays. The score would be too much for the Browns to handle. The team now has the inside track on the second pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

The Browns must find a way to pick in the top two selections. The Browns need to find a quarterback in next year’s draft class. The class is fraying, as quarterbacks Dante Moore of Oregon, Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, and Ty Simpson of Alabama will all decide whether to enter the NFL draft or return to college. If the Browns don’t have a top-three pick, then they have a real shot of losing one of these quarterbacks. In the latest 2026 NFL mock draft, the Browns address the quarterback situation while rebuilding their trenches and increasing their talent in the receiving room. The Browns are set up for eight picks inside the first five rounds.

The team will have many opportunities to shore up their weak position groups over draft weekend. Fernando Mendoza was the first quarterback I mocked to the Browns before the season started. With more than a month left in his junior season, Mendoza is the Heisman award favorite. Mendoza has thrown for 2,342 yards, 26 touchdowns, and five interceptions on 181 completions and 254 attempts. Mendoza turned heads when he turned down top paydays to join the Hoosiers. Mendoza strongly believed that head coach Curt Cignetti knows how to develop NFL quarterbacks.

That’s proven to be the case as Mendoza is in the consensus top-three picks in the draft. The Browns haven't even started their 2025 NFL season yet, and already they're mocked to take a quarterback with the projected No. 1 pick next April. After a hectic offseason that saw Joe Flacco win the starting quarterback job over Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, the Browns still don't feel like a playoff contender and could be right... If Cleveland earns the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, ESPN's Field Yates has the team taking a surprising name to finally get their quarterback of the future: Arch Manning.

Yes, Archie Manning recently stated that his grandson will stay at Texas for at least two seasons, a belief many in the scouting community share. But ultimately, Arch is eligible to declare in 2026, and if he performs up to his potential, he might just have to consider the NFL leap in this coming draft class. So I'm including him ... for now. He is inexperienced and needs to add more weight to his 6-foot-4 frame, but it's easy to see his immense ceiling. I know the Browns just drafted two passers this year, but if they are picking first overall next year, then yes, they'll be taking a quarterback.

On the other hand, SI's Daniel Flick's 2026 mock draft didn't include Manning at all under the presumption that the young signal-caller wouldn't declare for next year's draft, as his grandfather Archie announced earlier... "Arch isn't going to do that. He'll be at Texas," Archie said, when asked about whether his grandson is planning to enter the 2026 draft. There's a misconception floating around about the 2026 NFL Draft. Before this college season kicked off, Texas' Arch Manning, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier were widely viewed as the top eligible quarterback prospects. Those three haven't quite met the early expectations, which has some people jumping to the conclusion that this is a "weak" QB class.

In reality, the rise of Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (my QB1 back in May), Alabama's Ty Simpson and Oregon's Dante Moore has reshaped the board. All three still have remaining eligibility and could theoretically return to school in 2026, but in today's thought exercise, they come off the board quickly -- just not at No. 1 overall. Four teams enter the first round with multiple picks, while just as many have none. The Browns and Rams dealt away theirs in separate draft-day moves a year ago, and the Jets and Cowboys moved on from Quinnen Williams and Micah Parsons, respectively. To set the stage, here are the current odds to be the No.

1 overall pick (via FanDuel Sportsbook). Reminder: This is the current NFL draft order after Week 10 (via Tankathon). The Cleveland Browns enter the 2025 season with one of the more polarizing quarterback situations in the NFL, with the likes of Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders fighting for the... 1 spot. However, a new signal-caller seems bound to call Cleveland home in 2026. Jacob Infante of PFSN agrees.

In his recent seven-round mock draft, Infante has the Browns selecting Texas quarterback Arch Manning with the No. 1 overall pick. "There’s no guarantee that Arch Manning will declare for the 2026 NFL Draft," Infante writes. "He’s a massive unknown at this stage, having only started in two games. But he has an impressive arm, makes smart decisions in the pocket, reads the field well, and offers better athleticism than either of his famous uncles, Peyton and Eli. Although the Cleveland Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in 2025, neither came with the kind of draft capital that typically signals a long-term commitment.

If Cleveland finishes with the league’s worst record, they’d be smart to take a swing at a true franchise QB." Manning hasn't played a ton of college football, which has led many to believe he won't declare for the draft in 2026 and will stay another year at Texas. However, should he come out, there will be plenty of Browns fans that beg for Cleveland to take him. Be sure to bookmark Cleveland Browns on The Sporting News for all the latest news, interviews, breakdowns, and more! The quarterback depth chart for the Cleveland Browns has changed drastically over the past year. Heading into 2024, Deshaun Watson was the main plan.

Now, it appears the Browns want anyone but Watson helming the team going forward. Any one of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders could emerge with the starting role in 2025. However, someone new entirely could win the job in 2026. At least, that is what two analysts appear to agree on. Writing in a PFSN 2026 mock draft on May 24 and a CFN mock draft on May 25, analysts Jacob Infante and Max Dorsey both projected the Browns to emerge with Clemson Tigers quarterback... “Cade Klubnik made huge strides in 2024,” Infante wrote.

“He’s an accurate passer with good poise in the pocket and underrated mobility. His consistency, rhythm, and decision-making all give him a high floor and project him as a potential long-term starter in the league.” Routinely plays from a balanced base/platform. Can see, read, and react with repeatable mechanics. Good enough athlete to break contain and create outside of structure. pic.twitter.com/rdCkhdx8zY

The Cleveland Browns are no strangers to quarterback questions, and as the 2025 season winds down, they find themselves in familiar territory-evaluating young talent under center and weighing it against what’s shaping up to... Veteran Joe Flacco, while still on the roster, isn’t expected to factor into the team’s future plans. Instead, the focus has shifted to a pair of rookies: Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Gabriel saw his first NFL action in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, completing all three of his pass attempts for 19 yards and a touchdown during garbage time. It wasn’t much, but it was clean, efficient work in his limited opportunity. Gabriel’s brief debut comes at an important moment for Cleveland.

With the Browns likely picking near the top of the draft again, the front office will have a decision to make: keep investing in young quarterbacks already on the roster, or roll the dice... But not everyone is sold on the idea that next year’s draft will offer a better solution. The Cleveland Browns handed Dillon Gabriel the keys to the franchise earlier this season, but so far, that move hasn’t resulted in much success. After a 1-4 start to his career, questions and concerns about Gabriel are raging throughout the Browns fanbase. Many analysts and fans aren’t holding back... The Cleveland Browns lost a crucial player early in the season.

Left tackle Dawand Jones couldn’t even make it to the midway point of the campaign, sustaining yet another season-ending injury. He had shown promise, but he’s looking at a long way back, and Jones recently revealed his potential... Shedeur Sanders hasn’t received his chance to play starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, and there are many fans and analysts confused and angry about that. Despite the pushback, there is a chance that head coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff won’t change their approach soon. But Cam... Cleveland Browns legend Bernie Kosar is having a serious health crisis, and he is keeping fans updated on every step of the process.

Earlier this week, he released a video from his hospital bed and then provided another one just a few days later. A few days ago, Kosar told... To say that the Cleveland Browns have gotten off to a disappointing start to the season would be a huge understatement. However, there should still be time to turn things around and at least come closer to playoff contention. However, Ali Bhanpuri of NFL.com doesn’t see that happening right now.... The Cleveland Browns need a new quarterback, and they find themselves in a position to take one as they come on the clock in this mock draft.

Browns Linked To Surprising Qb Prospect In 2026 Draft

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