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'They are going to find out': NFL executive is already putting the cart before the horse ahead of Browns' 2025 season

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 3:42 PM ET

Back in April, it was understood that the 2025 NFL Draft would truly begin at pick No. 2 — with whatever the Cleveland Browns decided to do. Ultimately, the Browns traded down three spots and selected defensive tackle Mason Graham. What made the move worth it was what Cleveland received from the Jacksonville Jaguars in return.

The Browns passed on the opportunity to draft potential two-way star Travis Hunter, but they secured a 2026 first-round pick and an additional second-round pick, which they used to land their running back of the future, Quinshon Judkins.

The trade was widely praised. Many believe Cleveland could use those extra picks to select a quarterback of the future next year — but first, the Browns need to evaluate what they already have on the roster.

NFL Executive overlooks the importance of evaluating Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel

An anonymous NFL executive praised the Browns’ trade but jumped the gun by suggesting the team is already poised to find a franchise quarterback in 2026.

“It’s hard to pass on Travis [Hunter] or Abdul [Carter] at 2, but you get a good young defensive tackle [in Mason Graham]. … That’s a position that’s really expensive now, so to get a rookie-scale player there is crucial,” an AFC executive said. “And this is really about 2026. Can they get their quarterback of the future there? They are going to find out.”

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Cleveland is planning to give both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders every opportunity to prove themselves in 2025. The best-case scenario for the Browns would be discovering that one of them is the long-term answer, allowing them to use their two first-round picks next year to build around that quarterback — not replace him.

Assuming Cleveland is already all-in on drafting a quarterback in 2026 is premature. Sanders’ fall to the fifth round wasn’t due to a lack of talent, and both he and Gabriel have shown promise — albeit in early offseason sessions where most players tend to look good.

The Browns may still end up drafting a quarterback next year, but there’s a lot that has to play out before then. For now, the focus should be on developing and evaluating the young signal-callers they already have.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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