The Cleveland Browns head into 2025 as one of the most overlooked teams in the league. They are widely viewed as a favorite to land the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft. Despite having four quarterbacks battling for the starting job this season, the franchise’s long-term plan at the position may not even be on the current roster.
According to one NFL analyst, Cleveland could already be eyeing Texas quarterback Arch Manning and legendary coach Nick Saban for next season. The report suggests that ownership connections fuel the buzz, making this the league’s “poorly kept secret.” Here’s what we know so far about this developing story.
Will the Browns Pursue Arch Manning and Nick Saban in Next Year’s Offseason?
Expectations for the Browns’ season are low. The team is in a transitional phase at quarterback following the failure of the Deshaun Watson project, as he could never replicate his Houston Texans success in Cleveland.
But the Browns may already see a potential answer in the next draft class.
NFL analyst Colin Cowherd shared his view on Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s close ties to the Manning family and Saban, suggesting there are too many connections for this to be just a conspiracy theory.
“This is not a conspiracy theory… this story is a poorly kept secret. The Mannings, Haslem, Jimmy Sexton, Nick Saban” – Colin Cowherd on the Cleveland Browns chasing Arch Manning and Nick Saban pic.twitter.com/BzIBfBeyRM
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 23, 2025
“Saban is incredibly close to not only Jimmy Haslam, but Saban’s close to the Manning family as well. And so Saban, if he could land, I’m told, a top quarterback… he would take a phone call for the NFL. And there are two teams guaranteed to be awful this year in the NFL: Cleveland and the Saints,” Cowherd said. “This is not a conspiracy theory.”
Saban retired after coaching at Alabama from 2007 to 2023, a span in which he won six national championships. Prior to his time with the Crimson Tide, his career highlights included serving as defensive coordinator for the Browns from 1991-94, leading LSU to a national title in 2003 as part of a five-season run at the school, and serving as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
“Haslam’s circle of trust, according to an article in The Athletic last year, is the Manning family and Jimmy Sexton and Bill Parcells. Sexton is Nick Saban’s agent. So the Mannings are royalty in New Orleans… And the Mannings are royalty to Jimmy Haslam,” Cowherd added.
Manning will play his third college season in 2025 and be eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, though there’s speculation he could return for his senior year. However, if the hype around the Texas quarterback turns into production, he could become the favorite to go No. 1 overall next year.
If Cleveland finds itself in a position to draft him, Cowherd believes the signs strongly suggest that’s the direction Haslam would go, even if Saban doesn’t accept a head coaching job. With the Browns projected to be one of the NFL’s worst teams and no clear quarterback solution, optimism is hard to come by in Cleveland.
