The Cleveland Browns have a tough task ahead in the weeks before the 2025 season kicks off: naming their starting quarterback. And even if that decision is made with extreme care, there’s no guarantee the team won’t look for its quarterback of the future in the 2026 draft.
If the team underperforms this season and ends up with a high pick next year, it’s hard to imagine they wouldn’t use it on a quarterback. Here’s a look at who could fall into the Browns’ lap in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Browns Predicted To Select QB Arch Manning In 2026 NFL Draft
The Browns have spent years cycling through quarterbacks, hoping to find their championship answer. The Deshaun Watson experiment, which began with promise in 2022, failed to deliver. Before Watson, Baker Mayfield was selected first overall in 2018, but after failing to make the immediate impact Cleveland needed, he was traded and has since found success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Meanwhile, Cleveland enters this season with four underwhelming quarterback options, and the outlook remains uncertain. This situation has analysts projecting significant changes ahead, including the possibility of the Browns landing the top pick in the 2026 draft.
PFSN projected the Browns to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, which would give them their choice of prospects. Their projected selection would be Arch Manning, the Texas quarterback who now carries the starting role following Quinn Ewers’ departure from the program.
ARCH MANNING TAKES IT A CAREER LONG 67 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 😱
(via @TexasFootball)
pic.twitter.com/Critoviw3Y— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 15, 2024
However, Manning’s draft status remains uncertain. “There’s no guarantee that Arch Manning will declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s a massive unknown at this stage, having only started in two games. But he has an impressive arm, makes smart decisions in the pocket, reads the field well, and offers better athleticism than either of his famous uncles, Peyton and Eli,” Jacob Infante wrote.
The Manning name carries significant weight in football circles. His uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning, combined to win four Super Bowls during their legendary careers. Arch brings a modern playing style that blends traditional pocket presence with enhanced athleticism, making him one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects heading into the 2025 college season.
Cleveland wouldn’t necessarily pass on developing their current young talent if the right opportunity presents itself. The team has Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders on the roster, though neither is guaranteed significant playing time in 2025. Veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco appear more likely to handle starting duties early in the season.
The reality is that neither Gabriel nor Sanders was selected with the kind of high draft capital that typically signals a franchise cornerstone. “Although the Cleveland Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in 2025, neither came with the kind of draft capital that typically signals a long-term commitment. If Cleveland finishes with the league’s worst record, they’d be smart to take a swing at a true franchise QB,” Infante added.
This draft pick could represent a turning point in Cleveland. To compete in the AFC, a team needs a quarterback who can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen. And Manning would give Browns fans reason to believe he could be that guy.
