Normally, when training camp starts in the NFL, we see the end of ranking season. Throughout the offseason, we covered all sorts of Cleveland Browns-related rankings. Whether it was multiple power rankings, 2026 NFL draft grades/rankings, where stars like Carson Schwesinger, Denzel Ward, Harold Fannin Jr., and Quinshon Judkins were ranked among their positions, or where the Browns young core was placed among the rest of the league, ranking season was vast but seemed mostly over.
With training camp
in full swing, one more set of rankings, tiers really, is now available. As we covered, Mike Sando’s QB tiers do not speak highly of QBs Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. There is more hope connected to Sanders from the 50 coaches and executives, but he is also ranked at the bottom of the list of 35 quarterbacks.
Given Cleveland’s history, it is interesting to note that two former Browns quarterbacks also made the list, but not former playoff QB Joe Flacco. Sando’s tiers have Baker Mayfield tied with Sam Darnold for 14th overall in the second tier. As Mayfield looks to enter free agency, his career has been an interesting up-and-down roller coaster with another season to prove he is worthy of a top-tier contract.
Fitting squarely between Watson and Sanders in the rankings is former Cleveland QB Jacoby Brissett. The Arizona Cardinals starter heading into the 2026 season, Brissett negotiated a raise on his contract this offseason but is still ranked near the bottom of the veteran starters in the NFL.
Joining Watson, Sanders, and Brissett in the bottom five are two recent early first-round picks: Michael Penix Jr. (32) and JJ McCarthy (34).
Are you surprised at any of the rankings listed above? Did you expect Mayfield and/or Brissett to be higher on the list? Does Penix and McCarthy being ranked so low give you even more concern about drafting a quarterback high in the future?
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