In the world of the NFL draft, there are many sites and people who have made an impact, starting with ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who loved the Cleveland Browns 2026 NFL draft class. The NFL draft has been considered the fourth major US sport, at least in the media world, which has led to the proliferation of draft-oriented sites, shows, and personalities.
Given what is expected to be a big quarterback draft in 2027, including with a big-name like Arch Manning involved, we can expect the attention on the draft to increase.
One of the sites that has risen out of obscurity to take an important spot in the NFL draft media landscape is Tank-a-thon. Throughout the year, Tank-a-thon does a great job of keeping track of where each team will be selecting, in a variety of sports’ upcoming drafts.
Needless to say, many have that site bookmarked or memorized as a part of their sports fandom.
For the Browns, finding an answer at the quarterback spot is still the biggest issue that needs to be solved. The problem for Cleveland is a number of other teams have the same problem. Whether it is Shedeur Sanders or someone in the next draft, the Browns need to find an answer.
Tank-a-thon’s recent NFL mock draft did not supply that solution with the team’s first selection:
Having three quarterbacks off the board before Cleveland was able to select allowed Jeremiah Smith, the best receiver prospect in a decade or more, to fall to the Browns. Adding Smith to KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Harold Fannin Jr., and Quinshon Judkins would round out the young weapon group for Cleveland.
In the mock draft, CJ Carr was the next quarterback off the board, with the 10th pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Darian Mensah going to the Minnesota Vikings at 13.
The Browns did add their young quarterback with the last pick in Tank-a-thon’s mock draft. Using the selection added from the Los Angeles Rams in the Myles Garrett trade, this mock draft saw Cleveland selecting Drew Mestemaker out of Oklahoma State.
After throwing for over 4,300 yards and 34 touchdowns last year at North Texas, Mestemaker transferred to Oklahoma State for the upcoming season. Mestemaker followed his head coach, who left North Texas to take the Cowboys job.
Mestemaker’s story is an interesting one:
His path to this point has been anything but conventional. Mestemaker did not start at quarterback during his preps career at Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas, instead playing defensive back. He joined North Texas as an unheralded walk-on in 2024 and spent much of his first year developing behind the scenes.
Adding Smith and Mestemaker would make for an interesting young core for the Browns offense, but there will be a lot of questions with Cleveland adding the sixth quarterback selected in next year’s draft.
What do you think about these decisions? If they are going to pick one next year, should the Browns use their top pick on a quarterback, no matter what?
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