Arch Manning is one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects, but he will not be included in the 2026 NFL Draft. He will play at least one more season of college football before turning pro and is expected to have several interested teams next year. Browns analyst Tony Grossi believes that Cleveland is one of them.
Why the Browns Could Target Arch Manning in the 2027 NFL Draft
The Browns picked two quarterbacks in the NFL Draft last year, but apparently they aren’t sold on either one of them as the future of their franchise. They are rumored to be exploring the market of prospects at the position despite having Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on their roster already.
Grossi recently discussed where they currently stand, and Manning came up as a potential target for next year’s draft. He was asked if owner Jimmy Haslam would be interested in theoretically picking him, to which he responded with a definitive answer:
“Absolutely, yep. I mean, he’s got to have a good year, but yeah,” said Grossi.
Are the Browns and Jimmy Haslam still very interested in Arch Manning?
“Absolutely, yep,” – @TonyGrossi. pic.twitter.com/KFjI0UQa8c
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) March 23, 2026
This idea would suggest that the Browns will likely pass on a quarterback in this year’s draft while keeping an eye on Manning for next year. Sanders ended last season as their starter after surpassing Gabriel on their depth chart, so at least for now, the role is his to lose.
Sanders finished 46th of 48 qualified quarterbacks in PFSN’s Impact Rankings last season, so it’s fair to be skeptical about his long-term outlook. Gabriel was one of only two quarterbacks to finish lower than he did, so new head coach Todd Monken is walking into a bit of a mess at the position.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
If Haslam does have his eye potentially on Manning, it would seem to make sense for him to stick with Sanders for the 2026 NFL season. This can accomplish several things by the end of the year, depending upon his performance throughout the season. If he’s awful, the Browns will likely have a top pick and can theoretically replace him then.
Keeping Sanders as their starter for now also opens up the possibility for him to take a massive step forward in Year 2. Doing so would eliminate their need to target Manning or any other quarterback prospect. He appeared in just eight games last year, so giving him a full season should allow Monken and his staff to see what they truly have before potentially moving on next year.
