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Browns Projected To Trade Up To No 1 For Big Ten Qb In New 2026 Nfl

Bonisiwe Shabane
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browns projected to trade up to no 1 for big ten qb in new 2026 nfl

A new round of draft speculation has placed the Cleveland Browns at the center of one of the boldest potential moves of the 2026 NFL Draft cycle. The franchise is being linked to a possible pursuit of the No. 1 overall pick, a scenario that would carry significant implications for its long-term quarterback plans. In PFSN’s Ian Cummings’ latest mock draft, Cleveland is projected to trade up for the No. 1 overall pick in a deal with the New York Giants. The proposed package includes the No.

3 pick, the No. 28 pick, a 2027 first-round selection, and a 2027 third-round selection. The move would give the Browns a direct path to selecting the quarterback many evaluators consider the most complete passer in the class. That quarterback is Indiana star Fernando Mendoza, who accounted for 73 total touchdowns over his career and enters the draft cycle as one of the most decorated prospects in recent memory. Cummings said Mendoza’s résumé and evaluation grade justify Cleveland’s willingness to pay a premium. “Mendoza won the Heisman.

He helped lead the Indiana Hoosiers to their first Big Ten Championship win since 1967. He nearly led the nation with an incredible PFSN QB Impact score of 93.2 and a blue-chip draft evaluation grade,” Cummings said. “This is what a franchise quarterback looks like. This is worth trading whatever it takes for the Browns.” The move would also reflect Cleveland’s growing concern about Shedeur Sanders and his long-term viability as a starter. Sanders showed flashes during his rookie season but struggled with consistency and overall efficiency.

The Cleveland Browns are widely expected to land their franchise quarterback in 2026. Cleveland selected Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, but neither appears to be the long-term answer at quarterback. With that, the Browns are likely to use a first-round pick on a quarterback. Yet, NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic predicted the Browns will trade up to the first overall pick to select Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza. “Owning two first-rounders in April and having received marginal play under center this season, the Browns have the ammo and motivation to be aggressive quarterback hunters this offseason,” Brugler wrote. “Cleveland traded back in last year’s draft to be in position to get its guy in 2026, and neither Dillon Gabriel nor Shedeur Sanders has done anything to change that plan.

In this scenario, the Browns package both of their 2026 first-rounders (and probably a 2027 Day 2 selection) to Tennessee for rights to the No. 1 pick. “Mendoza, whom NFL scouts compare to Goff or Kirk Cousins, won’t wow with his arm velocity or speed, but his football intelligence (both pre- and post-snap) separates him. He has an outstanding feel for playing on time and layering throws to attack vulnerable spots in the defense, with just enough mobility to avoid sacks at an encouraging rate. The Browns will like Mendoza for a lot of the same reasons they liked Gabriel — except Mendoza has better physical attributes and a higher upside.” Browns in front row to trade Fernando Mendoza ......

read full story Answer for your question of the article will be displayed here ... Dante Moore could shake up Round 1 if he declares for this year's NFL Draft. Steph Chambers / Getty Images The No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft rarely gets dealt.

In fact, it has happened just twice in the past 20 years. One of those instances, though, came in 2016, when both the No. 1 and No. 2 picks were traded to quarterback-needy teams, who then selected Jared Goff (Rams) and Carson Wentz (Eagles), respectively. We could see history repeat itself in the 2026 NFL Draft. I don’t like projecting trades in mock drafts, especially my first one of the cycle.

But if the Titans and Giants finish with the top two picks, as it stands now, there will be movement early. We are still six weeks away from the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft, so we’re left making educated guesses on which quarterbacks will be available. Some scouts believe Oregon’s Dante Moore will return to school, while others believe he won’t be able to pass up a potential top-five slot (especially now that Kentucky has hired Ducks offensive coordinator Will... Other quarterbacks, including Texas’ Arch Manning and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, are expected to return to school and aren’t included in this mock. We're down to the final three weeks of the NFL regular season. More teams have seen their playoff hopes ended with crucial losses in December.

That leaves many with questions heading into the offseason. For some - only New York and Tennessee at time of publishing - that means a new coaching staff with a few other vacancies potentially set to open up. Even before those teams sort out their coaching staffs for next season, fans are likely already thinking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft. This draft was viewed as a marquee class for quarterbacks as recently as four months ago. That's changed but there are still multiple passers who could be top-10 picks as things currently stand. But where will they land and how will the first round shake out?

We've tapped CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus and Sporting News for their input in our latest mock draft roundup. Browns predicted to make bold trade, draft Shedeur Sanders replacement in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Cleveland Browns are once again one of the worst teams in the league in 2025. However, that doesn't mean the Browns haven't received a ton of attention. Due to having rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a ton of eyes have been on the Browns despite the team's struggles.

Sanders has now been the starter for five games, and the results have been mixed. The Browns are just 1-4 with Sanders as the starter, but the rookie doesn't exactly have the best supporting cast. Will Sanders end up doing enough to prove to the team that he deserves to start in 2026? Or will the team feel obligated to make a big move this offseason? Ian Cummings of PFSN recently published a new mock draft and he has the Browns trading up to No. 1 and selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

It's late December, and we still have nearly a month left of college football. That means we still have a month to see which players will increase their draft stock in some incredible College Football Playoff matchups. FOX Sports Research has put together a mock for the 2026 NFL Draft ahead of the CFP quarterfinals. The draft order below was determined by aggregating several projections for each team while still factoring in trades involving draft picks to account for teams with multiple selections. Note: Several players expected to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft have not because of their participation in upcoming CFP games; below is a projection of players who are expected to declare at the... This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.

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