Browns Predicted to Replace Shedeur Sanders After Rookie Season

At this point, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the two rookie quarterbacks, but there is a chance that the Browns will draft a quarterback in 2026 as well.

Ahead of Week 14, Dane Brugler of The Athletic put together a new 2026 NFL mock draft. In it, he had the Browns selecting a quarterback with the first overall pick.

Brugler predicted Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza to be the selection after Cleveland trades up with the Tennessee Titans for the pick.

"Owning two first-rounders in April and having received marginal play under center this season, the Browns have the ammo and motivation to be aggressive quarterback hunters this offseason. Cleveland traded back in last year’s draft to be in position to get its guy in 2026, and neither Dillon Gabriel nor Shedeur Sanders has done anything to change that plan," Brugler wrote.

He predicted the Browns to send both of their 2026 first-round picks to acquire the first choice and grab Mendoza.

In three total games, Sanders has thrown for 405 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, so it is a small sample size.

Mendoza transferred from Cal to Indiana, and he has the Hoosiers as the No. 2 with an undefeated record going into the Big Ten Conference title game.

Mendoza has thrown for 2,758 yards with 32 touchdowns and just five interceptions, so he has shown plenty of talent in his first season with the Hoosiers.

He is a Heisman Trophy contender and a popular choice to go No. 1 overall, and in this scenario, he would step in and compete for the job with Sanders and Gabriel, barring a trade from Cleveland.