The Cleveland Browns were incredibly active in the quarterback market this offseason, as the team traded for Kenny Pickett, signed Joe Flacco, and added Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the draft.
With Deshaun Watson’s status for the 2025 campaign in doubt, the Browns will hold a competition in training camp for the starting job. Though Pickett and Flacco are the favorites due to their experience, don’t rule out the possibility of Gabriel or Sanders being the starter.
No matter who plays quarterback for Cleveland in 2025, the team will likely be back in the market for a starting signal-caller next offseason. Pickett and Flacco will be free agents, and it will be tough for one of the young guys to establish themselves as the long-term answer.
NFL Spin Zone’s Sayre Bedinger predicts the Browns will start a new era of football in Cleveland by selecting LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Nussmeier had a solid 2024 campaign, tossing 29 touchdowns to 12 interceptions with 4,052 passing yards and a 64.2% completion rate. He led the Tigers to a 9-4 record and a Texas Bowl win over Baylor.
If Nussmeier takes the next step in 2025, he’ll be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 draft class. The 23-year-old possesses exciting arm talent and is one of the most dynamic pocket passers in the nation.
Cleveland, who hasn’t used a first-round pick on a quarterback since Baker Mayfield in 2018, could see Nussmeier as their franchise savior and select him with a premium pick in 2026 if Gabriel and Sanders don’t work out.
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