The Browns are once again searching for a franchise quarterback – sound familiar? After the Deshaun Watson trade, the hope was that the search had finally ended, but the organization now finds itself in a familiar predicament. Given the team’s overall state, including the cap situation, another splashy move via free agency or trade seems unlikely. Instead, the most realistic approach for the Browns will likely involve adding veteran reinforcements alongside a rookie quarterback in the draft. With the quarterback carousel in full swing, the coming days will provide crucial insight into how the Browns plan to address the position in April.
Given Andrew Berry’s approach of addressing needs in free agency to maintain flexibility in the draft, I don’t see the Browns entering April without at least a viable starting option already on the roster. While adding Kenny Pickett via trade certainly is a step in the right direction, I’d still expect another significant addition in the coming days. With the second overall pick in a QB class that doesn’t have a lot of top-end talent, they can’t afford to be forced into reaching due to an urgent positional need. That said, while taking a quarterback with their first round draft pick is definitely a possibility for the Browns, it’s far from a certainty. In the following, I’ll break down some of Cleveland’s potential rookie options and where I’d feel comfortable selecting them.
Cam Ward
If the Browns do take a quarterback with the second pick in the draft, I believe Cam Ward is the only option that makes sense from a value standpoint. Among all prospects in this class, Ward has the most complete skill set and offers the clearest projection at the next level. What stands out most in his game is his ability to improvise, whether it’s delivering accurate throws from different arm angles or picking up yardage with his legs. He’s a slippery runner who consistently avoids or shakes off tackles, but that doesn’t mean he can’t operate within structure. Ward routinely worked through his progressions and only took off when no other option was available. Whether inside or outside the pocket, he’s always a threat to deliver a big-time throw downfield. There’s a certain ‘it factor’ to his game as he remains unfazed by pressure and has a knack for turning broken plays into positive gains.
With his big arm and confidence in it, Ward occasionally overestimated himself, falling into playing hero-ball from time to time. Another area he’ll need to refine in the NFL is his footwork. While his arm strength often compensates for inconsistencies, improving his mechanics would enhance his accuracy and timing. Beyond that, there’s plenty to like about the five-year starter, who won’t turn 23 until May.
Though Ward is the most pro-ready QB in this class, starting him as a rookie would come with significant pressure in this situation. Ideally, he’d have time to develop behind a veteran, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as the Week 1 starter. Ultimately, the Browns can’t afford to miss on their second overall pick, if Ward isn’t available, don’t force it.
The Second Tier
If Cam Ward goes first overall or the Browns decide to address a different need than quarterback with their first round draft pick, there are still several high-quality options available. While Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart may not be true first-round talents, both are likely to come off the board on the first night of the draft. Many, including myself, see Sanders as QB2 in this class, but the gap between him and Dart isn’t as wide as it might seem.
Shedeur Sanders
Sanders is arguably the most accurate deep-ball thrower in this class, as evidenced by the countless highlight-reel throws on his tape. He operates well within rhythm, emphasizing ball placement and touch. While he is more of a pocket passer, he’s capable of making tough throws on the move and picking up a few yards with his legs when needed. Despite playing behind a porous offensive line at Colorado, he never let pressure speed up his internal clock, consistently standing tall in the pocket. In the red zone and high-pressure situations, he showcased poise and confidence, proving he can deliver in critical moments.
While Sanders was highly productive at Colorado, the offense he operated in was far from a pro-style system. It relied heavily on screen passes and quick-game concepts, with the occasional deep shot mixed in. While that’s not necessarily a knock on Sanders, it does make his evaluation more challenging. His pocket presence also needs refinement, as he took a lot of unnecessary sacks, either by failing to recognize pressure or holding the ball too long. Although his deep-ball accuracy was consistently impressive, he struggled with slight inaccuracies in the intermediate game. Additionally, when playing from behind, Sanders showed some hero-ball tendencies, often putting the ball in harm’s way in an effort to create big plays.
Jaxson Dart
Unlike Sanders, Dart played in a more pro-style offense at Ole Miss, where he was required to attack the entire field, including true read progressions. While there aren’t any standout physical traits (aside from the power he can generate with his lower body on rushes) he possesses a well-rounded athletic skill set for a quarterback and won’t be limited at the next level. Dart can make almost every throw on the field and demonstrated impressive touch, particularly on hole shots to the sideline. While he’s a capable runner, he also flashed the ability to improvise, creating big plays off scrambles. Moreover, Dart showed consistent development throughout his time at Ole Miss, particularly in his touchdown-to-turnover ratio.
Despite all the promising traits, there are a few tendencies Dart will need to eliminate at the next level. While he generally makes good decisions, he tends to throw 1-2 passes each game that make you want to pull your hair out. Whether it’s forcing throws to covered or even double-teamed receivers, or missing his target by a wide margin, these lapses in his decision making are concerning. Especially when he has a wide-open receiver, Dart sometimes puts too much zip on the ball, narrowing his margin for error and leading to incompletions on layups. Additionally, when pressured somewhat frequently, Dart can become a bit too run-happy, missing opportunities to make plays through the air.
The Bottom Line
While both have a lot to like about them, I don’t think the Browns would feel comfortable selecting either quarterback with a top-10 draft pick. With three QB-needy teams at the top of the draft, it’s likely someone will reach for a prospect out of desperation. While free agency will help fill some gaps, there will still be uncertainty heading into the draft. If the public consensus holds, Shedeur Sanders will likely be a top-10, if not top-5, pick, which makes finding a realistic trade-down (or trade-up) scenario for the Browns difficult. This is exactly why I believe it’s essential to bring in a starting-caliber veteran to avoid being forced into selecting a QB with the second overall pick. While I like the Kenny Pickett trade, this wouldn’t be enough for me to be comfortably going into April.
With Jaxson Dart seemingly being a less coveted option, I could see a scenario where he’s still available at the back end of the first round. A few teams near the bottom of the first round, like the Vikings at 24, the Texans at 25, and the Commanders at 29, don’t have much draft capital on Days 2 and 3, making them potential candidates for a trade-down to 33. Selecting Dart in the first round of the draft would also give the Browns an additional year to evaluate their quarterback with the fifth-year option. While this could still be considered a reach, I’d feel much more comfortable picking Dart late on day one than taking Sanders at 2.
The Mid-Round Targets
While this QB class doesn’t have a lot of top-tier talent, the depth should not be underestimated. I believe the late second to early fourth round will be the sweet spot for selecting a QB this year. While these prospects will certainly come with some question marks, teams will still be able to find potential starters well beyond the first round. Given the number of other needs the Browns could address with their top picks, it might be wise to take a patient approach with the quarterback position in this draft. Here are my favorite mid-round prospects:
Dillon Gabriel
Gabriel has already played a lot of football in his six years of college, ranking second on the NCAA’s all-time passing yards leaderboard. His best trait by far is his ability to avoid negative plays. Everything he does looks controlled and decisive, and he never passes up an open target. While Oregon’s offensive scheme didn’t fully highlight his processing ability, it did flash on plays that featured full read progressions. Gabriel throws one of the most receiver-friendly balls in this class, with excellent touch and the ability to layer passes over defenders. He also demonstrated the ability to throw with anticipation and showed a deep understanding of reading defensive coverages.
In a front office like the Browns, which places a strong emphasis on youth and physical traits, Gabriel might not stand out as much. At the combine, the 24-year-old measured in at 5’11” and 205 lbs., which falls far short of ideal for a quarterback. His physical limitations also extend to his arm strength, which, while serviceable, is more of a weakness than a strength. This lack of arm strength can sometimes lead him to pass on tight-window throws, opting for the checkdown instead.
Tyler Shough
Shough’s name has been rising rapidly on draft boards over the past few weeks, and when you watch his tape, it’s easy to see why. Based on his 2024 tape alone, he’s certainly a top-5, if not top-3, QB in this class. He’s one of the smoothest and most explosive movers among QB prospects, which is even more impressive considering his 6’5″, 219 lb frame. Shough has a very live arm but knows when to dial back his throwing velocity. He also shows poise in every aspect of his game and makes off-platform throws look effortless. Unlike others, Shough didn’t receive much help from his supporting cast, dealing with a weak offensive line and receivers who struggled with tough catches and even turned some routine completions into turnovers.
The major concerns with Shough are his injury history and his age. After backing up Justin Herbert for two years at Oregon, Shough was named the starter in the 2020 season, which was shortened by COVID. In 2021, he transferred to Texas Tech, where he suffered season-ending injuries in all of his three seasons with the Red Raiders. As a result, despite spending seven years in college, Shough has only attempted a mere 952 passes in his career. Turning 26 in his rookie season doesn’t help his case, even though we’ve seen quarterbacks succeed well into their 30s. Still, given Andrew Berry’s emphasis on age in his draft strategy, this could mean Shough doesn’t even make the Browns’ draft board.
Will Howard
Coming off a national championship with the Buckeyes, Will Howard is a well-loved figure in the state of Ohio. At 6’4″ and 236 lbs., he has the prototypical frame of an NFL quarterback. Ohio State’s offense featured plenty of pro-style elements, allowing him to showcase his NFL-readiness. He displayed solid footwork, even taking a few snaps under center. While his arm strength may not quite match what you’d expect from someone of his size, he can make some tight-window throws and hit deep shots. Ohio State also used him deliberately in short-yardage situations, putting the ball in his hands to close out games or in the red zone. Additionally, he keeps his head up while scrambling, making some impressive off-platform throws, and only takes off running as a last resort, minimizing unnecessary hits.
While Howard’s play took a significant jump in 2024, much of his success can be attributed to his supporting cast. The receiving corps and offensive line at Ohio State were exceptional, making life easier for him than it will be in the NFL. While he can be effective in short-yardage situations, he lacks the athleticism to juke defenders or create chunk plays on the ground. His hand size, measuring only 9″, is evident on tape, as he often puts the ball on the ground, posting 21 fumbles throughout his college career, including eight in the last season alone. Additionally, he’s a bit turnover-prone through the air, with 35 interceptions in his college career, including 10 last season. That number could have been even higher, as his receivers bailed him out on a few risky throws.
The Bottom Line
With a wide-open competition for QB4, predicting exactly where these players will land is challenging. Depending on how the board unfolds, any of the Browns’ 3rd or 4th-round draft picks could be a possibility for either quarterback mentioned above. While there are other options in that same range (which are discussed below), I believe Gabriel, Shough, and Howard are the players I’d trust the most to either start or at least compete for a starting job in year one. With a likely stronger QB class in next year’s draft, spending “only” a mid-round pick this year wouldn’t prevent the Browns from selecting another quarterback if they feel strongly about next year’s class.
The (Developmental) Mid-Round Targets
With the players in the tier above, you have a clearer sense of what you’ll get in terms of the on-field product. While I’m not suggesting there isn’t room for improvement, the range between the floor and ceiling for those prospects is less extreme than what we see with the following quarterbacks. Should the Browns choose to go with a younger, developmental quarterback alongside a bridge veteran, there are some intriguing names to keep an eye on in the draft as well:
Kyle McCord
With just two years of starting experience at two different schools, McCord is still a raw prospect. However, the progress he made in 2024 compared to 2023 was significant. Not only that, but he seemed to improve with each game, including an impressive five-game stretch at the end of the season where he threw for 13 TDs, 0 INTs, and averaged 403.2 passing yards per game. He’s played in two offenses with pro-style elements and quickly picked up the playbook at Syracuse, ultimately becoming the most productive passer in the FBS in 2025. His biggest improvement was his accuracy, which had been inconsistent at Ohio State. At Syracuse, his ball placement stood out, as he consistently hit tight windows and gave his receivers opportunities for yards after the catch. He also excelled with timing throws, placing the ball right on the receiver’s chest as they made their break.
McCord generally wasn’t careless with the football, but his decision-making still needs some refinement, as evidenced by his 12 interceptions in 2024. However, it’s worth noting that five of those came in a single game against Pitt, where he threw interceptions on three consecutive drives to start the game, including two pick-sixes. While two of those turnovers were more about bad luck, you could tell he was pressing to make up for it, forcing some throws that led to more interceptions and incompletions. McCord can be a bit of a streaky passer, with both bad and good throws often coming in bunches. Additionally, he sometimes struggles to read the middle of the field, overlooking linebackers or robber-safeties lurking on routes.
Jalen Milroe
Jalen Milroe might be the most exciting prospect for any team looking for a high-upside developmental project. He boasts elite athleticism, exceptional movement skills, and the strongest raw arm in this QB class. As a runner, he put up 1,685 yards and 32 touchdowns over his two seasons as Alabama’s starter. But it’s not just his athleticism that stands out; Milroe has great instincts in the run game and the size to run over smaller defenders. Even if he isn’t ready to start in the NFL for a couple of years, he can still contribute in specific packages. Beyond his rushing ability, his biggest strength is his deep passing outside the numbers. While Alabama’s talented receiving corps certainly helped, Milroe still made some eye-catching throws, hitting his targets in stride along the sideline. He also performed well on timing routes, where he had a more static target. Additionally, new Browns OC Tommy Rees, who coached Milroe at Alabama in what was likely his best season yet, already has experience working with him, which could help smooth his transition to the NFL.
While Milroe’s physical tools are undeniable, he also has the widest range of possible outcomes among the quarterbacks on this list. He flashes highlight-reel throws every game, but his down-to-down consistency remains a major concern. His ball placement leaves much to be desired, and he tends to stare down his primary read, often bailing from the pocket if his first option isn’t open. This makes him vulnerable to defensive backs reading his eyes and jumping routes. Despite his elite arm strength, he has yet to develop the touch needed to vary in his passes, often firing every throw at full power, regardless of the situation. Additionally, his footwork in the pocket can get jittery, leading to wasted movement and missed reads.
The Bottom Line
While both McCord and Milroe come with their fair share of concerns, their upside makes them intriguing mid-round gambles. I expect both to come off the board somewhere in the third or fourth round, similar to the quarterbacks in the “tier” above. If the Browns secure a proven starter in free agency, taking a mid-round flyer on a developmental prospect could be a smart way to keep searching for their long-term answer. Quarterback development hasn’t been a strength for Cleveland in recent years, but with a more experienced QBs coach in Bill Musgrave, there’s hope that could change moving forward.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that quarterback is the Browns’ biggest need right now, but I believe Cleveland will prioritize getting the right value with their high draft picks. With that in mind, the only quarterback I’d consider at No. 2 is Cam Ward. However, given the number of intriguing talents at the top of this draft and the depth of solid mid-round QB prospects, having some patience could pay off. Additionally, with reports suggesting the Titans are open to trading the first overall pick, while also needing a quarterback themselves, there’s no guarantee Ward will even be available at No. 2.
After a tumultuous season, this offseason will be crucial for the Browns’ current regime, especially when it comes to the quarterback position. With the Watson saga (hopefully!) nearing its conclusion, the pressure to finally land a true franchise QB has only intensified. By swapping DTR for Kenny Pickett, the Browns appear to be aiming for a fresh start, while also creating competition. However, I see Pickett as more of a backup than a true starter, meaning they would likely need to make another notable addition in free agency. While ownership has voiced its confidence in Berry and Stefanski, they have plenty of work ahead to regain the trust of their players, as reflected in the latest NFLPA report cards. Given these factors, I don’t see how they could comfortably pass on Cam Ward at No. 2 if he’s available.
Ultimately, this remains a fluid situation, and we likely won’t know the Browns’ pick until Roger Goodell announces it in Green Bay. However, the ongoing free agency period should provide some much-needed clarity, not just for Cleveland, but for every QB-needy team.
Quarterback Big Board:
- Cam Ward
- Shedeur Sanders
- Jaxson Dart
- Tyler Shough
- Jalen Milroe
- Kyle McCord
- Dillon Gabriel
- WIll Howard
- Quinn Ewers
- Riley Leonard
Image licensing: “BLF_0865” by “MGoBlog“, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
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