Five quarterbacks on the roster, but the Cleveland Browns still have no clue who’s starting Week 1. That’s the reality Cleveland faces as the 2025 season approaches, with Deshaun Watson sidelined by an Achilles injury and four signal-callers battling for the top spot. The bigger question isn’t who wins the job, but whether any of them can actually keep it.
Browns Projected to Have No. 1 Overall Pick in Latest PFSN Mock Draft
While Watson remains sidelined due to an Achilles injury, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, and Kenny Pickett are currently fighting for the starting role. Sanders has appeared to be the best of the four in offseason practices, but there’s a good chance none of these quarterbacks work out for the franchise.
If that scenario happens, the Browns aren’t predicted to be patient with Sanders. Instead, they’ll look to find their true franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
PFSN’s Owain Jones envisions that scenario in Cleveland in his latest NFL Mock Draft. He predicts the franchise will use the top pick to select Texas quarterback Arch Manning, given he declares for the draft.
Landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft would mean none of Sanders or the other quarterbacks worked out for the franchise. Getting that top selection would also suggest that Cleveland will move on from Sanders, Gabriel, and Flacco while keeping Pickett as a backup.
What Makes Arch Manning The Top 2026 Draft Prospect?
“There will be debate over whether Arch Manning will enter the 2026 NFL Draft right up until the deadline next January,” Jones wrote. “While all signs and priors point towards the Texas Longhorns’ quarterback returning, there is a possibility that he will declare, especially if he is likely to be the No. 1 overall selection.
“This may only be Manning’s first year as a starter, but the hype is real. There is enough tape to hint that the five-star recruit has all the intangibles and dynamic play to be the top quarterback in next year’s class, potentially.
ARCH MANNING HAS ARRIVED. TD TEXAS🔥 🙌
FIRST TEXAS TD FOR ARCH 👏
(via @InsideTexas)
pic.twitter.com/0vsv0LtQgJ— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 31, 2024
The 6’4″, 212-pound quarterback is a more high-powered passer than his uncles, adding a potent rushing threat they didn’t have.”
Through his first two seasons, Manning barely saw the field. However, he got some snaps and showed real promise. He completed 61 of 90 passes for 939 yards and nine touchdowns.
There’s still a long way to go between now and the 2026 NFL Draft. But it’s tough to picture Cleveland suddenly turning things around after a three-win season, especially with a quarterback room where no one is guaranteed to remain a starter throughout the season.
While Flacco will likely retire by the end of the season, Cleveland can either cut or trade Sanders and Gabriel based on their market value after their rookie campaigns.
