Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry faces a pivotal decision under center. The Browns cycled through three different starting quarterbacks in 2025, throwing Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Joe Flacco into the fire. Flacco is now in Cincinnati, and Cleveland owns the No. 6 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
While many expect the Browns to either draft a rookie or build around Sanders, another avenue is gaining traction.
Browns Could Trade for Two Former Top Quarterback Prospects
CBS Sports draft analyst Josh Edwards expects the quarterback carousel to spin before the draft begins, potentially landing a former top prospect in Cleveland. Edwards believes the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans are ready to cut ties with their 2023 investments.
Edwards spoke on 92.3 The Fan: “I ultimately think that Will Levis and Anthony Richardson will be moved before the draft because both of their teams have already kind of, you know, made amends to that or signed a backup quarterback. So they already have other plans at the position.”
“So I think the Browns are going to be in that conversation for those two players. I think, you know, a team like the Packers who are trying to replace Malik Willis are going to be in that conversation. I think it makes more sense if you’re a team like the Browns, who could get one of those former first-round picks with a day three pick somewhere, whether that’s a fourth or a fifth-round pick. You’re talking about the same draft capital you would use on these potential rookies.”
Both Richardson and Levis entered the league with immense physical tools but have struggled with consistency and injuries. Richardson played two games in 2025, as he suffered an orbital bone fracture in Week 6. Levis missed the 2025 season after undergoing a season-ending surgery on his right shoulder.
Evaluating the Browns’ 2026 Rookie Quarterback Alternatives
The 2026 draft class features several intriguing quarterback prospects, but it lacks a consensus generational talent. The Browns could easily draft Miami’s Carson Beck or Penn State’s Drew Allar at No. 6. Edwards, however, views trading for a veteran as a smarter calculation than rolling the dice on the incoming rookie crop.
“That’s a more worthwhile dart throw to me than going down the route of a Carson Beck or a Drew Allar.”
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“I think the only thing that kind of makes me a little bit, you know, interested is the fact that Beck has a relationship with Todd Monken. That would be kind of the only real consideration there for me. But I would be more interested in one of those two guys. And that, of course, fills out your quarterback room for the upcoming season.”
Taking a swing on Richardson or Levis allows Cleveland to use its premium draft capital elsewhere. The Browns need elite playmakers on the perimeter, and a receiver like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate makes sense at No. 6. Trading a mid-round pick for a quarterback with NFL film provides a known baseline while keeping top-tier draft assets intact.
