The Cleveland Browns are likely to take a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Browns took Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, but neither appears to be the long-term answer at quarterback. With that, Cleveland will likely use an early pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to find their franchise quarterback.
NFL analyst Browns Alchemy of BrownsWire had Cleveland selecting Fernando Mendoza with the third overall pick.
“Fernando Mendoza is a traditional drop-back passer in an era of run-first quarterbacks. Mendoza had prototypical size for the position at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds… Mendoza is a deadly field general. The quarterback does a great job of commanding the offense,” the article read. “He has the size, strength, and quickness to stand tall in the pocket and deliver passes as receivers break open.
“Mendoza isn’t afraid of taking a shot. He’ll step into a hit if he needs the extra split second for his receiver to get open,” the article added. “He’s a smart player who knows the importance of perfect timing in an offense. Mendoza thrives as the epicenter of an offense. He knows how to distribute the ball to his playmakers. He has a great arm and can access every part of the field.”
Mendoza being picked third overall and going ahead of the likes of Garrett Nussemier, Cade Klubnik, and Drew Allar would be a surprise. But the analyst calls Mendoza a perfect fit for the Browns.
“Head coach Kevin Stefanski needs a quarterback he can develop into a franchise quarterback. Mendoza would be a perfect fit in Cleveland,” the article added.
The 21-year-old has the seventh-best odds of being the first overall pick.
Mendoza Expected to be a Riser Ahead of NFL Draft
The 6-foot-5 quarterback transferred from Cal to Indiana this season and is expected to be a riser ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mendoza has the frame to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL, and one scout told ESPN that the QB will see his draft stock rise throughout the season.
“I really liked Mendoza’s tape,” an NFC area scout said. “He’s the one to circle that could be a bigger riser, and Cignetti has a great track record with transfer QBs.”
ESPN Draft analyst Jordan Reid says a knock on Mendoza is his patience. Mendoza often breaks the pocket prematurely instead of allowing concepts to fully develop, which is something scouts would like to see him improve on.
However, if Mendoza has a good season at Indiana, he could leapfrog some quarterbacks and be a top-three pick.
Browns Will Likely Play All 3 Quarterbacks
Cleveland has been linked to selecting a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Browns drafted Sanders and Gabriel, so the plan is that Cleveland will play them this season to see what they have.
Entering the season, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam says Stefanski knows they need to see all the quarterbacks play.
“Absolutely, Kevin is aware of that,” Haslam said. “He knows how important quarterback is, and he and (general manager Andrew) Berry talk about those kinds of things all the time. It’s a daily, ongoing conversation.”
However, in Week 1 and for the time being, Joe Flacco will be the Browns’ starting quarterback.
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