Espn S 2026 Nfl Mock Draft Has Browns Getting Qb Ot After Projected

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 5, 2025, 3:03 AM

espn s 2026 nfl mock draft has browns getting qb ot after projected

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. The NFL season is finally upon us. After nearly half a year without professional football, our teams return to us with the hopes of a brighter tomorrow. Some teams will return with the distance cold that sends fans searching for a brighter tomorrow. I assume that’s how most readers are finding this first mock draft of the season. If the Browns have taught me anything, it’s that it’s never too early to look toward the future.

This mock is a complete first-round mock draft. The draft order was determined by inverting the Super Bowl odds from our friends at BetMGM.com. This first mock includes seven quarterbacks going in the draft. While I don’t think that 20% of the first round will be quarterbacks, I wanted to include a host of players for fans looking for their future franchise quarterback. In future mock drafts, there will be far fewer quarterbacks. The goal for this mock draft is to introduce as many top prospects in college football as I can.

The 2026 NFL draft class has the potential to be very good. That’s why I want to spread the word. Arch Manning had a very disappointing 2025 debut. The quarterback made his first away start in the dreaded Ohio State stadium. The environment clearly overwhelmed Manning, who struggled to complete routine throws. However, one game shouldn’t dissuade people from believing in Manning.

Football is a small sample size sport, where one game feels like it can define someone’s career, but it doesn’t. Manning is a great quarterback, and he found his footing during the fourth quarter against Ohio State. He played his best during crunch time, and I think that’s being overlooked. Manning is a top quarterback, and I think he’ll have the Longhorns back in the conversation for the National Championship. Great quarterbacks can prove their leadership by saving a season that gets off track. Manning has that opportunity this autumn.

The Cleveland Browns haven't even kicked off their 2025 NFL season yet, but they're likely already looking ahead to next offseason. While they have one eye on Week 1's clash against the Cincinnati Bengals and their slim chances at a playoff berth this year, this team is likely already preparing for the next draft. It's not unreasonable that they would do so. The Browns are still rebuilding, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and they've got two first-round picks for 2026. That kind of ammunition could turn a bottom-dweller into a possible contender. Just ask the Houston Texans, who added quarterback C.J.

Stroud and EDGE Will Anderson Jr. with back-to-back selections back in 2023. Or the Detroit Lions, who came away with running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell the same night. There's been fear that the Browns wouldn't use both of their first-rounders next year, and instead burn them both to trade up for a quarterback. That worry is only compounded by the fact that Cleveland already drafted two rookie gunslingers this past offseason, Oregon's Dillon Gabriel and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. Trading away both their first-round pick and the Jacksonville Jaguars' in 2026 to take another QB would be a waste of premium draft capital and a detriment to the development of their existing prospects.

Recently, ESPN's Tony Grossi suggested that the Cleveland Browns could use not only their two first-round picks in 2026 to trade up to ensure they land their top quarterback prospect, but also their number... Frankly, there doesn't seem to be a passer worth that kind of price in this year's class yet. .@TonyGrossi says he's willing to trade the Browns two 2026 1st round picks and a 2027 1st round pick to move up for a rookie QB in the 2026 NFL Draft 😯Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/xgEV9zR9Tp By the time we've reached Week 17 and Christmas Day in the NFL season, there are just as many teams eyeing the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency as there are thinking about the... And heck, even some playoff teams, if they're realistic with themselves, would have eyes for the NFL Draft as the Super Bowl just simply isn't in the cards.

But as the New York Giants currently sit with the No. 1 overall pick, there's already some draft drama as a bevy of teams could trade up to draft a quarterback. The New York Jets and Cleveland Browns are the obvious options, as they would look to jump ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders. But what about sleeper teams like the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams? They might have even more incentive to trade up for their choice of Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore Jr. One of them does in our latest NFL Mock Draft with a full first-round projection for 2026.

It's become undeniable that the Tua Tagovailoa era is over in Miami. But with it looking like Mike McDaniel could be the one who sticks around, the Dolphins need surety at quarterback and Quinn Ewers hasn't shown those signs yet. It's time to make an aggressive trade, and Fernando Mendoza would be perfect in this offense. His decisiveness, plus arm and mobility would reinvigorate the Miami attack and, though it'll cost likely multiple first-rounders, it'd be worth it to reset this franchise's trajectory. The race for QB1 between Mendoza and Dante Moore has gotten closer throughout the year, but the Raiders should happily take whichever quarterback falls to them at No. 2.

Vegas misplayed their timeline with the Geno Smith deal, but getting out of it and moving on to Moore makes perfect sense. He's got all the tools, but just might need a bit more experience and polish. However, he would allow the Raiders, who are flush with cap space, to build around Moore and some other attractive pieces to make the elevation they'd hoped to this past season. There's a chance that the Browns make a draft move for a quarterback in 2026, but it's not a guarantee. They could also either stick with Shedeur Sanders or make a move for a veteran. That seems more likely right now, which brings wide receiver to the forefront given how lackluster that corps is right now.

Jordyn Tyson remains my WR1 by a hair over Carnell Tate. The ASU product has the size and movement skills to be a No. 1 at the next level, and the Browns direly need that no matter who is under center. Fernando Mendoza and top-seeded Indiana will take on Alabama in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Michael Reaves / Getty Images The race for the NFL’s worst record has a firm leader heading into the final lap.

At 2-14 with one game left (versus the Chiefs), the Raiders are the current favorites to land the No. 1 pick for the 2026 NFL Draft. Four three-win teams remain right behind Las Vegas: the Giants (versus Dallas in Week 18), Jets (at Buffalo), Titans (at Jacksonville) and Cardinals (at Rams). While we wait for the final non-playoff teams to settle into place, here’s a look at how the first 18 picks of this year’s draft — everything up until the postseason cutline — could... Once again, the Raiders need an awful lot, but they’ve kicked the QB can down the road long enough. Latest 2026 NFL mock draft from ESPN has the Cleveland Browns adding a QB and left tackle by trading up for Dante Moore

The Cleveland Browns clearly need a quarterback, but assuming the team will find one in the 2026 NFL draft depends on so many different variables, including which ones declare for this year’s selection process. Quarterback is not the be-all end-all of a successful NFL team, but a vital one for sure. The Browns probably should have prioritized other positions in the 2025 NFL draft after passing early in the process. Cleveland is currently slotted with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft order, as well as the 20th pick being sent over from the Jacksonville Jaguars. NFL mock drafts will continue to focus on three positions for the Browns: Quarterback, offensive tackle, and wide receiver. In ESPN’s latest 2026 NFL mock draft, Matt Miller has Cleveland flipping positions with the New York Giants (giving up two 3rd roudn picks) to get that prized quarterback:

The Browns’ many attempts to find a franchise quarterback have failed, so it’s back to the drawing board. Moore started five games at UCLA in 2023 before transferring to Oregon and sitting behind Dillon Gabriel -- whom he’d actually be replacing here -- in 2024. Moore has played with poise and touch this season, completing 72.8% of his passes for 2,190 yards and 21 touchdowns to five interceptions while showing great arm talent. The Giants would move down, and add picks to build around Jaxson Dart. If they move down they could take the best player available approach and add a linebacker like Reese to fortifty the middle of their defense. Thus far in 2025, Reese has 62 tackles with 6.5 sacks and two passes broken up.

Team sources feel that Reese is a special player as they like his instincts in combination with being big and athletic. At 6-foot-4. 238 pounds, Reese is a large linebacker with a versatile skill set. In 2024, Reese had 43 tackles with .5 sacks as a rotational backup. The Raiders grab their quarterback of the future. In 2025, Mendoza has completed 72 percent of his passes for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and six interceptions.

He has five rushing touchdowns as well. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder has a quality arm, reads the field well, makes good decisions, and has dangerous pocket passing ability. Mendoza played well for Cal in 2024. He completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Mendoza has good size, and it will be interesting to see how he develops at Indiana. The Browns grab a potential starting quarterback of the future.

Moore has been a dynamic point-producer for the Ducks in 2025, making plays with his arm and legs. In 2025, Moore has completed 74 percent of his passes for 3,046 yards with 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Moore (6-3, 203) is a dangerous quarterback who is tough to defend. He has shown impressive arm talent and feel as a passer. Moore throws some beautiful deep balls and shows impressive composure and poise for a young player. The Jets take their starter of the future.

Espn S 2026 Nfl Mock Draft Has Browns Getting Qb Ot After Projected

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