The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback room was one of the top topics of the 2025 NFL Draft. The team had been expected to draft Shedeur Sanders early but instead chose Dillon Gabriel in the third round, pushing Sanders until the fifth.
This created one of the wildest quarterback competitions of the offseason. Apparently, that didn’t sour them because they just added another fascinating wild card.
Why the Cleveland Browns Drafted Taylen Green
By selecting former Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Cleveland has injected an elite athlete into a depth chart already featuring Sanders as well as Deshaun Watson.
But why did a prospect with such top-tier physical traits fall so late in the draft? According to PFSN’s draft analysts on a recent episode of “Football Debate Club,” the league might simply be overthinking it.
“I think this is kind of an overcorrection from the Anthony Richardson situation,” said PFSN analyst Jacob Infante, referring to the Colts drafting a similarly raw athlete fourth overall back in 2023.
“You take Anthony Richardson way higher than he had any right to be because you’re betting on the upside… that didn’t work out, and now Taylen Green falls all the way to the sixth round. It feels like an overcorrection… the tools are all out of this world.”
Green’s physical profile is undeniably jaw-dropping. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 227 pounds, he registered a near-perfect 9.99 Relative Athletic Score (RAS). His pre-draft circuit was anchored by an electric showcase that placed his testing numbers in the 99th percentile for the quarterback position.
“You’re looking at one of the best combine performances for a quarterback in the event’s history,” Infante said. “I love the arm talent that he puts on display. The zip that he gets behind his pass is really intriguing.”
Despite possessing raw arm strength and elasticity, data reflect his erratic collegiate production. Green earned a PFSN Prospect Score of 76.41 and ranked as the class’s No. 8 quarterback, but his college tape presents a mixed bag.
PFSN analyst Ian Cummings noted that while Green broke out early as the Mountain West Freshman of the Year at Boise State, his trajectory flattened after transferring to the SEC.
“His development from an NFL perspective, you felt that it kind of stagnated,” Cummings said. “He’s got this hyper-elite physical skill set, but the operational consistency has never really been there.”
This is directly echoed by his 2025 PFN CFB QB Impact metric score, where he posted an 84.9, earning a “B” grade but ranking just 50th overall among college quarterbacks. While he amassed 2,714 passing yards and 19 touchdowns in his final year at Arkansas, Infante said, “Is he a consistent passer? Absolutely not. Is his accuracy solid? No.”
So, how does this raw talent fit in Cleveland? The Browns still have Watson’s looming contract to navigate, while Sanders represents an immediate, high-profile presence in the room. However, Cummings highlighted a crucial detail gathered at the Senior Bowl: Green is highly receptive to coaching.
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“If you see a guy with this hyper-elite physical skill set, you have to ask yourself, what is the mental makeup?” Cummings asked. “It seems to be the belief that he would be relatively receptive to [coaching].”
Green won’t challenge Sanders or Watson for the starting job in the near term. Yet, as a developmental lottery ticket designed to push the quarterback room, he offers massive upside. If Cleveland’s coaching staff can harness his natural athleticism and refine his mental processing, the Browns may have just capitalized on a massive draft-day overcorrection.
