The Cleveland Browns are hoping either Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel will be able to take the reins of the quarterback position for the long haul.
However, that is far from guaranteed to happen. Gabriel and Sanders are third- and fifth-round picks, respectively, and Sanders himself might be another speeding ticket away from getting himself cut.
That’s the scenario that plays out in the latest mock draft from Pro Football and Sports Network’s Jacob Infante, who has the Browns holding the No. 1 pick in 2026 and taking Clemson signal-caller Cade Klubnik.
“Cade Klubnik made considerable strides in 2024. He’s an accurate passer with good poise in the pocket and underrated mobility,” he wrote. “His consistency, rhythm, and decision-making all give him a high floor and project him as a potential long-term starter in the NFL.”
Klubnik has been impressive during his collegiate career so far, completing 63.4% of his passes for 7,180 yards and 57 touchdowns to 18 interceptions over the past three years that have also seen him win ACC Championship MVP twice, among other awards.
As Infante notes, Klubnik showed progress last season when he threw for 3,639 yards on a 63.4% completion rate and found pay dirt 36 times while only throwing six picks.
The Clemson star isn’t just a one-trick pony, though, as he’s shown an ability to run with the football after tallying 784 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, including a career-high 463 yards and seven scores in 2024.
At his current trajectory, Klubnik is in position to be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL draft, so he could be an option for the Browns early in Round 1.
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