Early 2026 mock draft paints gloomy picture for Browns

The Cleveland Browns will head into training camp in July hoping that 27-year-old Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel or 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders will eventually look like a long-term answer for the franchise at quarterback before the upcoming season wraps up in early January.

ESPN NFL analyst Matt Miller seemingly isn't optimistic about Cleveland's current quarterback situation. For a mock draft posted on Monday, Miller predicted that the Browns will make Clemson signal-caller Cade Klubnik the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

"Spending two picks on quarterbacks in 2025 -- Dillon Gabriel (third round) and Shedeur Sanders (fifth round) -- shouldn't prevent the Browns from looking for a long-term passer here," Miller wrote. "Klubnik enters the season as my No. 1 QB. In 2024, he threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions, highlighted by a gutsy performance against Texas in the College Football Playoff (336 passing yards, three TDs, one INT). Klubnik reminds me of Baker Mayfield -- whom Cleveland selected with the No. 1 pick in 2018 -- in terms of arm strength, mobility and playmaking awareness."

While the Browns acquired an extra 2026 first-round pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars this past April, Miller had that asset as the No. 12 choice in next year's player-selection process. Thus, Miller believes Cleveland will "earn" the top pick for the 2026 draft by completing yet another losing season for the franchise. 

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski allegedly thinks Pickett can "thrive" in Cleveland's offense. That said, FanDuel Sportsbook continues to list 40-year-old Joe Flacco as a +110 betting favorite to start the Browns' Week 1 game versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. On Monday, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared that he feels the Browns essentially gave Flacco "a bye" in the four-way battle for the QB1 gig up until training camp.

Some previously accused Browns general manager Andrew Berry of "overdrafting" Gabriel, who was projected as a third-day pick back in April. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. viewed Sanders as the top quarterback prospect of this year's class, but Sanders' alleged handling of the predraft process seemingly impacted his stock. 

As of the final day of June, there was no indication that Stefanski will be in a hurry to have Gabriel or Sanders face live defenses in meaningful games this coming fall. That may say plenty about why individuals such as Miller think Cleveland's 2026 Week 1 starting quarterback will be playing college football later this year.