Cleveland Browns Look Ahead to 2026 NFL Draft

Both analysts and fans are predicting that the Cleveland Browns will be a notable contender in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

Generally, there’s a consensus that Cleveland had to focus on acquiring an offensive tackle and a wide receiver using their two first-round picks. To achieve this, the Browns moved down several spots to draft Spencer Fano from Utah and then picked Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion towards the end of the first round. On Day 2 of the draft, they added Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil Warren. However, they didn’t quite fulfill the expectations that many had, leaving some fans wanting more.

That said, there’s an important question on everyone’s mind, and we have updates regarding that.

Who will be the starting quarterback for Cleveland this season?

Reports suggest that veteran Deshaun Watson is in a favorable position to claim the starting quarterback role as the offseason progresses. According to Mary Kay Cabot, Watson indicated that he “emerged from the Browns’ voluntary minicamp last week and has the inside track to be named QB1 for the Browns, ahead of Shedeur Sanders in the two-man QB race.”

Now, if you’re curious, this is the same Deshaun Watson who played in 2024, starting only seven games that season before his campaign ended due to a torn Achilles tendon. He posted a meager 3.7 adjusted net yards per attempt, which didn’t help the Browns as they struggled to a 1-6 record. Additionally, he has faced numerous allegations of sexual assault in recent times.

Yet, despite these issues, there are arguments for why he might still be their best choice. Looking at quarterback efficiency—this is a metric that analyzes expected points added per pass along with completion rates—shows where every quarterback with a minimum of 100 pass attempts stood last year.

You might notice two Browns players fitting into that category from last season: Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

They find themselves in the lower rank of this statistic, which is certainly not where one would want to be.

So while it might seem like the Browns “won” the 2026 NFL Draft, the road ahead—especially regarding the quarterback position—remains uncertain.