The 2025 NFL Draft is already one for the books — and the ripple effects of the Cleveland Browns’ selections are set to shape their season and beyond. The franchise raised eyebrows by drafting not one, but two quarterbacks: Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. As a result, the Browns now have one of the most uncertain and crowded QB rooms in the NFL.
Given this chaotic setup, PFSN released an early 2026 mock draft featuring a bold prediction: the Browns selecting yet another quarterback. This projection dives into both the current instability and long-term uncertainty surrounding the position in Cleveland.
Browns Projected To Have First Overall Pick in 2026
The Browns’ quarterback situation heading into 2025 can best be described as controlled chaos. With five quarterbacks currently on the roster — three veterans with starting experience and two rookies — Cleveland is expected to have the most intense preseason QB competition in the league.
Joe Flacco stands out as the early favorite, thanks to the late-season success he had with the Browns in 2023. Kenny Pickett was acquired via trade this offseason, while Deshaun Watson seems to be out of the picture for the time being.
As for the rookies, their futures remain uncertain. It’s unclear who will make the final 53-man roster and who may end up on the practice squad.
With so much uncertainty at the position, Cleveland is projected to face a turbulent 2025 season, possibly lacking playoff aspirations. That’s the context behind Ian Cummings’ latest 2026 mock draft, which has the Browns owning the No. 1 overall pick and selecting Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.
Cummings notes that this projection is built on several hypotheticals — namely, a scenario where Manning lives up to his massive expectations and cements himself as the top talent in the 2026 draft class.
“Let’s start with this: This is not saying Arch Manning will be the No. 1 overall pick next cycle. He’s only started two games to this point. And as the top-valued NIL athlete, there’s no monetary incentive for Manning to make the NFL leap early. He could ultimately stay through his senior season, like his uncles Peyton and Eli both did,” Cummings wrote.
“This mock draft is instead exploring the possibilities. Manning is NFL Draft eligible. And if he plays as well as he has the ability to, this is how high the former No. 1 overall recruit can rise in one year if he plays to his potential and decides to strike while the iron is hot.”
Arch comes from the legendary Manning family — the same lineage that produced two-time Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli Manning. He flashed serious potential last season at Texas, showcasing athleticism, solid arm talent, and a strong feel for the game.
With Quinn Ewers now in the NFL after the Miami Dolphins selected him in the seventh round, Manning will take over as the starting quarterback at Texas. This is his opportunity to prove himself on a bigger stage. While there’s some belief that he may stay through his senior year (a tradition in the Manning family), if he enters the 2026 NFL Draft, Arch is widely expected to be the most sought-after quarterback in the class.
As for Cleveland, there’s no clear sense of commitment to any one quarterback on the roster. Gabriel was taken in the third round and Sanders in the fifth — solid picks, but not franchise-defining investments.
If the Browns end up earning the No. 1 pick and Manning proves to be a generational talent, there’s little reason for them to pass on a quarterback they believe in, especially when no current option has inspired true confidence.
