It’s not great secret that the Cleveland Browns might be in the quarterback market again next offseason. They drafted two quarterbacks in April’s draft — Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth — but mid-round quarterbacks don’t often work out. If the Browns find themselves near the top of next year’s draft, as they are expected to, they’ll be hard-pressed to pass on the opportunity to take the top passer on their board.
To that end, several members of the Browns’ top brass showed up to the Ohio State/Texas college football game in Columbus yesterday. Both teams have a slew of top draft prospects, but the guy all eyes were on was Longhorns QB Arch Manning. The consensus QB1 in the 2026 draft, at least as it stands now, had the most anticipated season debut we’ve seen in years.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and GM Andrew Berry were both in attendance for the game, making the short trip down from Cleveland to get their eyes on all the elite players in yesterday’s game. Manning struggled in his road debut, however, as Texas fell to Ohio State 14-7 in a sloppy game on both sides. Neither offense could find a rhythm, and ultimately, Manning wasn’t able to jump-start Texas’s passing attack until late in the fourth quarter. By then, it was too late.
Arch Manning Never Looked Comfortable Against Ohio State’s Defense
Gregory Shamus/GettyCOLUMBUS, OHIO – AUGUST 30: Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns throws a first half pass while playing the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
While his final statline — 17 for 30 for 170 yards with a touchdown and an interception, plus 38 rushing yards — doesn’t tell the full story, it does give you an idea of the kind of day he had. 5.7 yards per attempt is bad, and Manning was off-target on a number of attempts. He dirted some throws on the run when he had open receivers he was targeting, and threw too high on several occasions, missing opportunities for completions, and leading to the interception.
That said, Manning also had some incredible plays where he showed off his immense talent. His touchdown pass was a brilliant throw, placing the ball perfectly where his well-covered receiver could get to it and get down in-bounds without the cornerback interfering. He had another long pass down the sideline that was a perfect teardrop between the zone corner and safety, hitting his man in-stride. Not many college quarterbacks could make those plays.
Overall, while Manning definitely struggled, he has a season of growth to undergo before we’re finished evaluating him for the 2026 draft. He has time to get more comfortable.
Other Top Draft Prospects Showed Out on the Big Stage
Manning wasn’t the only draft prospect playing yesterday, though he was probably the one Cleveland was most interested in. On the Texas side, CB Malik Muhammad, LB Anthony Hill Jr., and S Michael Taaffe are just some of the names to keep an eye on. Muhammad and Hill, in particular, had good games.
On the Ohio State side, S Caleb Downs, TE Max Klare, and WR Carnell Tate are all considered top 50 players. The biggest name for the Buckeyes is WR Jeremiah Smith, but he’s not draft-eligible until 2027.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Browns Draft Target Falters in Spotlight With Jimmy Haslam & Andrew Berry Watching appeared first on Heavy Sports.