The Cleveland Browns enter training camp with one of the NFL’s most unsettled quarterback competitions. That uncertainty doesn’t help their 2025 prospects, but it increases their shot at landing a franchise quarterback next year.
Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and fifth-round selection Shedeur Sanders could find themselves pushed aside for a higher draft pick in 2026.
Kenny Pickett remains the popular choice to start Week 1. Joe Flacco provides veteran depth behind him. Both Gabriel and Sanders risk losing momentum despite strong college careers.
Gabriel led his team to a College Football Playoff appearance, undefeated regular season, and conference championship.
Sanders broke every major passing record at Colorado.
Ryan McCrystal of Sharp Football Analysis projects the Browns will target Penn State quarterback Drew Allar with the No. 1 overall pick in 2026.
Sporting News’s Mike Moraitis called that scenario “realistic.”
“The intriguing thing is, Allar, who has good but not great athleticism to go along with his immense arm talent, didn’t have a great allotment of weapons around him, yet he was still able to post those numbers and help take Penn State deep into the College Football Playoff,” Moraitis wrote.
“As a result, it’s safe to say Allar hasn’t hit his ceiling yet and could be even better with a superior supporting cast.
“There’s still a long way to go between now and the 2026 NFL draft, but if Allar can build on what he did last season in 2025, he could be the first signal-caller selected — and the Browns are a very realistic landing spot for him if they stink it up like many expect them to.”
It’s too early to predict Cleveland’s 2025 record.
But the lack of consensus around who Kevin Stefanski will start under center doesn’t suggest a playoff return this fall.
The coaching staff hasn’t found their franchise quarterback yet.
What’s one more young QB added to that search?
