The 2025 NFL draft and its quarterback class caused more than enough controversy, with no team more heavily involved than the Cleveland Browns. One draft expert believes they would have selected QB Drew Allar with the second overall pick, had he not gone back to college.
Cleveland Browns in Line for Hometown QB Had He Declared for the 2025 Draft
The Cleveland Browns drafted two quarterbacks in 2025, and now, with five on the roster, they have quite the quarterback battle coming up in training camp.
Browns GM Andrew Berry selected left-handed QB Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon in the third round of the draft, but that wasn’t all. Then, the GM stepped up to end the Shedeur Sanders draft slide, taking him in the fifth round.
The two rookies add to a quarterback room that already includes the injured Deshaun Watson and his $230 million contract, plus veteran addition Joe Flacco and former first-round pick Kenny Pickett.
According to NFL draft expert Dane Brugler, the Browns were keeping tabs on another quarterback in the 2024 season. Penn State’s Drew Allar opted to return to the Nittany Lions for the 2025 campaign, but had he declared for the draft, Brugler believes he might have gone very early on day one:
“If Drew Allar had declared, he probably would have been the No. 2 pick in his hometown Browns.”
If Drew Allar had declared this year, @dpbrugler believes he would have been selected second overall to the Browns.
Instead, Cleveland took two rookies in this year's draft — and gained added flexibility to add another in 2026. pic.twitter.com/C66d7Sz639
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic)
Cleveland is expected to be done with Deshaun Watson, who likely won’t feature at all in 2025 anyway. They’re looking for the next franchise quarterback, and both Gabriel and Sanders will get an opportunity to try and claim that job in 2025.
If not, Cleveland will go into the 2026 NFL draft with a lot of capital and a lot of quarterback talent available.
Archie Manning and Company in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Browns traded out of the number two overall pick just last month, allowing the Jacksonville Jaguars to come up and claim two-way star Travis Hunter. It was a costly move, though, and one Cleveland could benefit greatly from in 2026.
As part of the deal, Berry negotiated for a 2026 first-rounder, as well as the 5th overall pick, pick 36 in round two, and pick 126 in round four.
That 2026 first-rounder could be crucial for Cleveland, which will have plenty of ammunition to claim their franchise quarterback in a stacked draft if they need to.
The mission now is clear. Allow the two rookies an opportunity in 2025 to see if they have a franchise quarterback in the making. If the season doesn’t go well, either they’re high enough on the board to select a QB, or they can package their picks to come up and get one.
There are several QBs in the mix for the 2026 class, including Archie Manning out of Texas. He’s joined by LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, and Penn State’s Drew Allar.
