The Cleveland Browns will head into coaching camp in July hoping that 27-year-old Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round draft decide Dillon Gabriel or 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders will finally seem like a long-term reply for the franchise at quarterback earlier than the upcoming season wraps up in early January.
ESPN NFL analyst Matt Miller seemingly is not optimistic about Cleveland’s present quarterback scenario. For a mock draft posted on Monday, Miller predicted that the Browns will make Clemson signal-caller Cade Klubnik the primary decide of the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Spending two picks on quarterbacks in 2025 — Dillon Gabriel (third spherical) and Shedeur Sanders (fifth spherical) — should not forestall the Browns from searching for a long-term passer right here,” Miller wrote. “Klubnik enters the season as my No. 1 QB. In 2024, he threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, highlighted by a gutsy efficiency in opposition to Texas within the Faculty Soccer Playoff (336 passing yards, three TDs, one INT). Klubnik jogs my memory of Baker Mayfield — whom Cleveland chosen with the No. 1 decide in 2018 — when it comes to arm energy, mobility and playmaking consciousness.”
Whereas the Browns acquired an additional 2026 first-round decide from the Jacksonville Jaguars this previous April, Miller had that asset because the No. 12 alternative in subsequent yr’s player-selection course of. Thus, Miller believes Cleveland will “earn” the highest decide for the 2026 draft by finishing one more shedding season for the franchise.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski allegedly thinks Pickett can “thrive” in Cleveland’s offense. That mentioned, FanDuel Sportsbook continues to checklist 40-year-old Joe Flacco as a +110 betting favourite to start out the Browns’ Week 1 sport versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. On Monday, Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated shared that he feels the Browns basically gave Flacco “a bye” within the four-way battle for the QB1 gig up till coaching camp.
Some previously accused Browns common supervisor Andrew Berry of “overdrafting” Gabriel, who was projected as a third-day decide again in April. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. considered Sanders as the highest quarterback prospect of this yr’s class, however Sanders’ alleged handling of the predraft course of seemingly impacted his inventory.
As of the ultimate day of June, there was no indication that Stefanski shall be in a rush to have Gabriel or Sanders face dwell defenses in significant video games this coming fall. Which will say a lot about why people equivalent to Miller assume Cleveland’s 2026 Week 1 beginning quarterback shall be enjoying faculty soccer later this yr.
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