With an improved roster, a difficult road start to the season, a new head coach, and five new starters on the offensive line, the Cleveland Browns 2026 season has a lot of variables. The Browns schedule reveal showed a few games that are now harder because of how things are laid out and a few that could be easier. Cleveland is a huge underdog in Week 1, with one of the lowest betting odds for the Super Bowl as well.
As is always true with NFL teams, the focus around the Browns will be on the quarterback
position. Deshaun Watson might have the edge, but few believe he has a future in Cleveland. Shedeur Sanders has a chance to establish himself in the league after a rough rookie season, which followed a surprising drop in the 2025 NFL draft.
For the Browns, 2026 is about winning games, finding out if they have their QB of the Future, and/or having the best shot at a franchise-level quarterback in the 2027 NFL draft. If the first two are true, Cleveland could add the best talent in college, WR Jeremiah Smith, and be ready to contend in 2027.
If not, NFL draft positioning and who else is looking for a quarterback will be key. In both regards, Browns fans should be rooting for the following young quarterbacks, maybe in this order, to have great seasons:
- Shedeur Sanders – If Sanders can be a really good starter, Cleveland’s ceiling is very high starting in 2027. Sanders being good is THE best thing for the team moving forward. Whether he is or isn’t, the rest of the quarterbacks on this list being good could still help them out.
- Taylen Green – As a rookie, if Green can show that he can be an explosive playmaker, he gives the Browns an exciting backup and future trade chip, if not a starter.
- Dillon Gabriel – Gabriel was regarded at a higher level than Sanders coming out, not just by Kevin Stefanski, so a rebound year could up his trade value or solidify him as the team’s backup for the future, even if that rebound comes in preseason and spot duty.
- Carson Beck – Now we get to other teams, Beck’s Arizona Cardinals spent a 3rd round pick on him, and have a brutal schedule, but if he shows enough as a rookie, it could keep the Cardinals out of the quarterback market next year. If the Browns need to draft one, Arizona will likely be fighting for the worst record in the NFL, even if Beck looks solid.
- Drew Allar/Will Howard – From a narrative perspective, it won’t be great if the Medina native, Allar, looks good as a rookie. Frankly, a former Ohio State QB would also upset the masses as well. Aaron Rodgers is likely to return for one more season, but if he doesn’t or gets hurt, the Steelers roster is good enough to win some games with adequate quarterback play, keeping them from being near the top of the draft order next year.
- Cade Klubnik – Even if the Jets win some games with Geno Smith, they have the draft assets to likely move above the Browns (barring Cleveland picking first). Could the 4th round pick out of Clemson show enough, if he takes over late in the season, to keep New York from investing in a quarterback high? Given their draft stockpile, the Jets don’t have to be bad to still be able to draft a top quarterback, so Klubnik is the best way to keep them out of the Browns way.
- Malik Willis – Of all the quarterbacks on this list, Willis has the most experience. The Miami Dolphins signed Willis in free agency, but then traded WR Jaylen Waddle. If Willis helps win the Dolphins enough games, his contract is reasonable enough for them to hang their hopes on him, especially if they can add Smith to their receiver room.
- JJ McCarthy – A unique one at the bottom of the list, McCarthy may not start despite being a first-round pick just a couple of years ago. However, Kyler Murray is only signed for one season, and nothing is guaranteed with the Minnesota Vikings. Rooting for McCarthy to turn it around instead of the Vikings bottoming out would be in Cleveland’s interest.
Are there any other young QBs that Browns fans should be rooting for this year?
Share your list with us in the comment section below
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